Accenture Technology finalizing persuasive mirror, behavior monitoring systems

Pretty soon our homes will not only be staffed entirely by robots of all varieties catering to our every need, but we'll have mirrors that pull triple duty as surveillance cameras and best friends. Accenture Technology, the folks behind the elusive "persuasive mirror," is edging closer to a finalized product that can survey your facial features, love handles, and overall girth in order to communicate the honest truth about what you should (or could) do to improve your deteriorating image. The mirror operates by inspecting your body via cameras on each side of the panel, and displays "after" portraits on a monitor to give you a futuristic glimpse of what you'd look like should you shave, trim your bangs, hit the weight room, or start a DDR exercise routine. No longer will you have to doubt the integrity of your "close friends" when it comes to making personal hygiene decisions, as the persuasive mirror apparently feels that honesty is the best policy, even if it rattles your self-esteem. Moreover, the firm has crafted a prototype monitoring system that utilizes memory sensors to determine if subjects are deviating from "normal patterns of behavior." Current implementation ideas are to watch for meandering thieves in a parking lot, straying employees, and mischievous baggage handlers at airports. While the company is currently testing the technology out in France, you might want to think twice before venturing too far from the daily norm, although we aren't exact certain of the consequences should your lack of conformity set off any "abnormal" alerts.

[TwilightGhost @ Oct 12th 2006 3:58AM]

All through reading this article I was thinking "Hey, that sounds kinda cool and even slightly useful..." Then it hit me after reading the very excellent point in the last sentence.

This is just a future tool for control.

Think i'm being alarmist? You probably also think personal RFID implants are a good idea. Bite me.

[Deluxe @ Oct 12th 2006 4:15AM]

Tinfoil is surprisingly cheap these days.

[TwilightGhost @ Oct 12th 2006 6:51AM]

Mock me as you will.
It's a race between our (future) robot overlords and the world government as to who will enslave us first.

[Scott Wu @ Oct 12th 2006 4:53AM]

You are already being controlled. You just don't know it.

[Richard @ Oct 12th 2006 6:59AM]

Will it know when to lie? Like when she asks, "Does this make me look fat?"

[Tark @ Oct 12th 2006 8:22AM]

This is cool - I can't wait to own one!

[funetik @ Oct 12th 2006 10:21AM]

"I don't know, dear. I'm busy right, why don't you ask the mirror?"

*screams come from bathroom*

[Coyote @ Oct 20th 2006 9:03AM]

2 years of continuous smoking takes quite a toll eh? Maybe if shes smoking an oz of crack everyday. Also looks like it makes you a pretensious know-it-all.

[Reverend Draco @ Dec 16th 2006 6:17PM]

Sick. . . utterly, completely, sick. . . Come in George Orwell, do you copy? Over.