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Comcast Tests DVR That Watches You... Literally
from the some-things-don't-need-cameras dept
Broadband Reports points us to the news that Comcast has been experimenting (internally only) with putting cameras into DVRs in order to determine who and how many people are watching. Comcast lays out the reasons why this might be useful -- such as recognizing if a child is watching, so that child content filters are automatically turned on, or merely recognizing certain preferences based on who's watching. However, the creepiness factor of such an offering is quite high, and I doubt many people would be comfortable with such a camera -- especially coming from a company like Comcast that's been getting blasted for its traffic shaping efforts. Besides, it will be too tempting for marketers to avoid misusing such a technology. Nielsen, for example, has been trying to come up with all sorts of ways to figure out if people are really watching commercials or TV shows, or if they just leave the TV on and are doing something else. Think how tempting it would be to "spy" on people to get a sense of what they're really doing. If such a system was going to work, the homeowner would need to have full control over the camera. If it acted just like a computer webcam, with the individual having full control over how it was used and how it could be accessed, then people might be more comfortable with it (plus, conceivably it could open up the ability for people to do video chat via their TVs). But if it's sending any info back to Comast, it's going to make people exceptionally uncomfortable.
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Reader Comments (rss)
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Cameras
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v= voyeur
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In 2 years we'll find out they've been getting $10,000 a pop for an un-warranted living room surveillance of "suspected terrorist".
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Webcam in DVR
Drop the crack pipe and step away!@
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Bad Idea
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In a strange twist...
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Aluminum Foil!
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I honestly wouldn't be surprised if this camera wasn't in cable boxes already.
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Well your DVR already
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What about those of us who watch tv in the nude...
If that's the case we should charge them for watching us, since we got to pay to watch their 'content'.
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Re: In a strange twist...
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This Would Be Cool!!!
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This Would Be Cool!!!
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sweet
I mean, the camera is always on. I know if the TV is off or on or hasn't been touched for a while.
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Would not accept this if they paid me
The fact that they have control of the cable/DVR box in my home would make irrelevant any consumer privacy controls they might offer.
I agree with the earlier poster. Who comes up with this nonsense? Maybe this is a hoax, but would anyone be surprised if it wasn't?
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I promise you...
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And it wouldn't surprise me, if some do. But for me, no thank you!
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Senior Tech says "NO!!"
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filters
I find it very disturbing that everyone feels they need to play the parent. It is the parent’s job to monitor and filter what their children watch not the cable companies. Next they will be telling me I cannot watch certain shows past 10 because they feel I should be in bed sleeping.
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Re: Would not accept this if they paid me
Then its only a matter of time before the majority of privacy oriented people would become the minority and you would have to opt out of standard, country-wide entertainment to preserve your privacy.
Its amazing how slight pressure over a long period of time can sway public opinion and concern.
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Screw technology
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Comcast Response
To gather information for this article, the blogger picked up on a conversation between Gerard Kunkel and another person at a recent conference. They were discussing the various input devices offered by a variety of vendors that Comcast is reviewing.
The camera-based gesture recognition device is in no way designed to - or capable of - monitoring your living room. These technologies are designed to allow simple navigation on a television set just as the Wii remote uses a camera to manage its much heralded gesture-based interactivity.
We are constantly exploring new technologies that better serve our customers. The goal is simple - a better user experience that allows the consumer to get ever increasing value out of their Comcast products.
As with any new technology, we carefully consider the consumer benefits. In fact, we do an enormous amount of consumer testing in advance of making a product decision such as this. We're confident that a new technology like gesture-based navigation will be fully explored with consumers to understand the product's feature benefits - and of course, the value to the consumer.
Frank Eliason
Comcast Executive Offices
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Re: Comcast Response
cough cough
This will not be abused at all.
Trust us, no - really.
Dude, you need a strong dose of reality.
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Comcast Response
Hmmmmm....let me think about this. The Exhibitionist in me thinks...hehe...why not. The realist in me says...uhm no.
Cheers!
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Yea right
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Comcast get a life.. stop trying to hurt the cable industry!
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Re: Comcast Response
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Watching Me?
The microwave industry has long been transmitting personal data. What do you think they do with all that power? Just heat your coffee? !! It is satellite linked.
You know how that thing in the bottom of the "oven" that turns? Do you know why? To line up with the satellite that is nearest.
Personally, I've known that the whole point of digital TV was to facilitate two way data signals. My entire 52 inch plasma screen is a one-way mirror into the governments data centers.
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If passport information can't be locked down..
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Re: Watching Me?
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ugh
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Webcam Are ya Nuts
Can anyone say Orwell? instead of partying like its 1999, we are going all the way to 1984....
Hmm lets see traffic shaping, peeping tom....No wonder i switched to DISH !
No way on Gods green earth will i ever let these psychopathic idiots back into my house...What dipstick though this would be a good idea....What next your gonna tell us is for better viewing pleasure? Ha Right
Hey Frank, why dont you guys find a way to increase your network or something useful instead of pissing off the rest of your customers...
LONG LIVE DISH NETWORK
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Re: Comcast Response
Nudists don't care if people see them naked. That's the whole point of nudism!
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Re:
I would! Why not? I don't have anything to hide. Only people with something to hide would oppose this and those people need to be exposed anyway,
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Re:
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Why is everyone so paranoid?
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Re: Re: Re:
Anyone who would do that obviously has something to hide and should be relentlessly investigated until their crimes are uncovered. "Alternative interrogation methods" might even be needed until they confess.
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Re: Why is everyone so paranoid?
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Re: Re: Why is everyone so paranoid?
Fortunate for me, I do not have a spouse or children. But make not mistake that they will use information to harm them, if they can not get to you.
Fortunate for me, I knew the game and I used the game to put a foot up the crack of their corporatist backside. Don't be so eager to give up your right to illegal search and seizure. You will regret it.
You are an ignorant person.
At the end of WWII Niemoller wrote the following poem:
They came for the Communists, and I
didn't object - For I wasn't
a Communist;
They came for the Socialists, and I
didn't object - For I wasn't a Socialist;
They came for the labor leaders, and I
didn't object - For I wasn't a labor leader;
They came for the Jews, and I didn't
object - For I wasn't a Jew;
Then they came for me -
And there was no one left to object.
Martin Niemoller, German Protestant Pastor,
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Re: Re: Re: Why is everyone so paranoid?
It's like the story of the conversation between two campers in bear country:
First Camper - What would you do if we were attacked by a bear?
Second Camper - Run.
First Camper - Don't be silly. Humans can't outrun bears.
Second Camper - I don't have to outrun the bear. Just you.
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Follow the money
Do we realistically think that Comcast is installing cameras to look for children and "filter content".
The reality is that the camera is looking for children to filter the ads: if kids are in the room, the cable box should serve more adds for Barbie, Legos, and other toys.
Want to watch the History Channel or the Discovery Channel? Sorry, there are kids in the room- the cable box will be permanently set on Hannah Montanna and cartoons (of course, fully funded by Disney) until the kids leave the room.
We'll then see a reverse of the Neilson ratings: instead of 20 million people watching "Lost", 30 million cable boxes will be "filtered" to only show "Lost". (Again, funded by ABC's corporate parent, Disney.)
This would be a cool idea, though: give Comcast enough money and they'll "filter" the cable box so only your show is being seen by everyone.
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PPV
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http://www.gangstalkingworld.com/
http://educate-yourself.org/cn/gangstalkingoverview15se p06.shtml
http://www.newswithviews.com/Stuter/stuter78.htm
You see...the "Corporatist Pimps" are all in cahoots with each other. I know; I have lived it for 15 years. I patiently wait to take the next one out.
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Re: Comcast Response
They told us that there were no monitors on our phone lines at AT&T.
Look, if companies want more from their dollars, try this novel concept instead.
Don't spy on your customers. Offer them a fair product at a fair price, and give quality customer support from LIVE HUMAN BEINGS.
I promise, everything else will take care of itself after that. If you really feel the need to spy on people for 'demographic study', install one of your motion devices in your executive bathrooms.
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That is it!!
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Spy On Me
Pancake commercial?
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comment
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