Tesco to install screens that scan faces for targeted adverts

[Matt]

Supermarket giant Tesco is installing hundreds of hi-tech screens that scan the faces of shoppers as they queue at the till to detect their age and sex for advertisers.

The store giant has signed a ground-breaking deal with Lord Alan Sugar's Amscreen in a move which last night sparked fresh concerns from privacy campaigners about the growing use of "invasive" techology in the nation's shops.

The "OptimEyes" system will be rolled out into 450 Tesco petrol forecourts, which serve millions of customers a week.

It works by using inbuilt cameras in a TV-style screen above the till that identify whether a customer is male or female, estimate their age and judge how long they look at the ad.

The "real time" data is fed back to advertisers to give them a better idea of the effectiveness of their campaigns and enable them to tailor ads to certain times of the day.

Ads for Red Bull could run in the rush hour with ads for women's magazines timed for after the morning school run.

The technology echoes hit 2002 sci-fi film Minority Report, where actor Tom Cruise's character is bombarded by personalised ads as he walks down a street once sensors detect him by scanning his eyes.

Simon Sugar, Lord Sugar's son and Amscreen chief executive, told industry magazine The Grocer: "Yes it's like something out of Minority Report, but this could change the face of British retail and our plans are to expand the screens into as many supermarkets as possible."

He added: "We're extremely excited to call Tesco a screen network partner."

Full story: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/agriculture/supermarkets/10423811/Tesco-to-scan-queuing-shoppers-features-for-advertisers.html

I know we give away a lot of information online these days, and that CCTV is everywhere, but this just seems like a complete invasion of privacy...

[smeagol]

reminds me of the comedy peep show lol where he goes to the supermarket and buys milk bread etc and some cat food and denture stuff. why his mate said oh just to confuse them on the loyality card lol
far too much spying going on we cant even scratch our bums without a cam on us
only way around that is wear disguises lol and look a round like a lunatic lol

[Me. I Am Salman]

Ew

[MTVN]

Dont have a problem with it, my gender and approximate age are hardly a secret, its only using the information that you put on show every time you step out in public

[arista]

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/11/04/article-2486895-0065EEBF00000258-240_634x345.jpg


OptimEyes scanners developed by Lord Sugar's company Amscreen

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2486895/Tesco-start-using-Minority-Report-style-face-scanners-blitz-adverts-queue-pay.html#ixzz2jhLmwilS


fecking sugar

[fingers]

Dont have a problem with it, my gender and approximate age are hardly a secret, its only using the information that you put on show every time you step out in public

Just remember that you should put on clothes before leaving the house!

[Gstar]

I don't understand why these big companies spend so much money on ridiculous ideas when there's people dying in this world

[Jesus.]

That's why my friends and I do most of our shopping in groups wearing balaclavas.

[Jesus.]

I don't understand why these big companies spend so much money on ridiculous ideas when there's people dying in this world

You don't get rich feeding the poor.

[MTVN]

Just remember that you should put on clothes before leaving the house!

I knew there was something I forgot to do today

[Glenn.]

That's why my friends and I do most of our shopping in groups wearing balaclavas.

:joker:

[Marc]

So.. would it start advertising loads of KY Jelly and sex stuff for the horny?

[Jesus.]

Think that is the kleenex and handcream section on aisle 2.

[arista]

That's why my friends and I do most of our shopping in groups wearing balaclavas.



Sunglasses
do the trick

[arista]

So.. would it start advertising loads of KY Jelly and sex stuff for the horny?



If you are looking that Way.


2 for 1
KY Jelly Special

[arista]

I don't understand why these big companies spend so much money on ridiculous ideas when there's people dying in this world



Yes but Tesco is All about Profit
not Death






Life In The Fast Lane

[Gstar]

You don't get rich feeding the poor.

Yes but Tesco is All about Profit
not Death






Life In The Fast Lane

I wasn't saying that they had to feed the poor I was just stating how money can be spent on the most pointless things when there's bigger issues happening

[Z]

Not comfortable with this, what if their technology exposes me as the pervert I secretly am and starts screening adverts for all sorts of awkward things while I'm trying to innocently buy a melon and a microwave

[Kizzy]

I walk into tesco and up flashes an ad for tampax, feminax and chocolate....
I'M JUST NOT IN A GOOD MOOD TODAY OK????!!!!! :bawling:

[arista]

Not comfortable with this, what if their technology exposes me as the pervert I secretly am and starts screening adverts for all sorts of awkward things while I'm trying to innocently buy a melon and a microwave


Sunglasses for You

[arista]

I wasn't saying that they had to feed the poor I was just stating how money can be spent on the most pointless things when there's bigger issues happening


Sure
but they have tested it
and it works.


Bigger Issue's
are best read in the Guardian.

[joeysteele]

Personally I don't approve of this but it seems customers now get little say as to what goes on in supermarkets so it is something else the public just have to accept.

To be frank, I rarely ever use Tesco anyway but will likely use it even less when this comes about.

[Benjamin]

I can actually see Tesco losing some business from customers over this.

[Kizzy]

Do you think there's such a think as an 'anti ad' mindset?
I'm very conscious of being influenced, and actively avoid products aggressively marketed.

[Benjamin]

I walk into tesco and up flashes an ad for tampax, feminax and chocolate....
I'M JUST NOT IN A GOOD MOOD TODAY OK????!!!!! :bawling:

Don't worry, adverts for tampons won't appear. It'll be adverts popping up for Femfresh, Remifemin and Tena Lady you should be concerned about. :hugesmile:

[user104658]

Do you think there's such a think as an 'anti ad' mindset?
I'm very conscious of being influenced, and actively avoid products aggressively marketed.

Yes, I frequently find myself actively avoiding products that are "pimped" too much. I still could never bring myself to buy a Mac (even if they weren't horribly overpriced) - and that's purely down to the "I'm a Mac, I'm a PC" advertising drive from a few years ago. Bleh.

Advertising aimed at kids drives me mad, too. A few weeks ago I'm sure I saw one in which the jist was; "If you're a daddy's girl, and daddy loves you, THEN HE WILL BUY YOU THIS!!". :shocked: I mean come on!


Anyway, yeah these days I think I have an "internal" AdBlock Plus (which everyone should get for their browser, by the way, it even blocks the ads that play before YouTube videos!). I just have a sort of mental filter that makes me automatically completely ignore ads.

As for Tesco and this face recognition... I'm not a huge fan of the concept. But then, I don't go to Tesco anyway as I find it to be the most expensive of the "Big Three" supermarkets, AND the worst quality. Though I have no doubt the others will catch onto the concept eventually.

[Kizzy]

Don't worry, adverts for tampons won't appear. It'll be adverts popping up for Femfresh, Remifemin and Tena Lady you should be concerned about. :hugesmile:

What are you worried about ben, the ex lax, anusol and aubergine ads? :D

[arista]

Don't worry, adverts for tampons won't appear. It'll be adverts popping up for Femfresh, Remifemin and Tena Lady you should be concerned about. :hugesmile:



http://www.herbalhealthpharmacy.com/images/4197/tena-lady-extra-10s.jpg

Buy 1 get 2 Free

[Niall]

I don't see the concerns about privacy with this. It's no as if Tesco's all seeing eye scanners are peering into your head and reading your thoughts. It's just tailoring ads to certain markets, and correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that something already in heavy use across the advertising industry?