NEC's ad system pumps out spots based on gender, age
For better or worse, targeted advertising isn't going anywhere. Seemingly, it's not getting any more discrete, either. NEC's Digital Signage Solution combines a camera, a large display and a FeliCa contactless IC card reader / writer in order to dole out advertisements that cater to certain demographics. The system includes the innate ability to determine "gender, generation and other attributes" of a person in order to serve up advertisements that will cause him / her to spend some dough. From there, the individual can scan their phone in order to access related content on their mobile internet browser. That's all and fine and dandy we suppose, but how on Earth do you convince busy citizens to stop by and have a look at an otherwise uninteresting flat-panel?
[Image courtesy of NEC]
[Image courtesy of NEC]

















Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Blayed @ Jul 22nd 2008 12:24PM
The robots have the power to differentiate between us!
We're SO screwed.
kjb434 @ Jul 22nd 2008 12:29PM
Minority Report anyone?
Ladderless @ Jul 22nd 2008 12:36PM
I wonder what it would think of Pat...
Dead_Rebel @ Jul 22nd 2008 12:43PM
Thanks, now I got that friggin' jingle in my head...
"...... a ma'am or a sir, accepts him or her...."
Dillon @ Jul 22nd 2008 12:42PM
Wouldn't this be horribly insulting to a person if it guessed their gender wrong?
phanbouy @ Jul 22nd 2008 3:37PM
you don't live in San Francisco, do you?
Robert @ Jul 22nd 2008 12:43PM
couldn't they make the camera a little more discreet?
Brian @ Jul 22nd 2008 12:47PM
Nice post,but please.... "discrete" means "separate and distinct"; "discreet" means "subtle or confidential". Sheesh.
Mark @ Jul 22nd 2008 12:54PM
Hello, Mister Yamamoto!
Mile @ Jul 22nd 2008 1:14PM
May I only get ads that star Jennifer Aniston, please?
Galley @ Jul 22nd 2008 1:26PM
Wow, that is one WIDEscreen TV!
Michael @ Jul 22nd 2008 1:42PM
So what's up with that Dual Screen PSP?
BigD145 @ Jul 22nd 2008 1:56PM
Disgusting advertising.
phanbouy @ Jul 22nd 2008 3:37PM
ha.. i heard lots of self-righteous tripe on NPR this morning about how networks are studying brain waves now for targeted advertising
another reason i only pay for commercial-free content (read: netflix)
tomokazu.osada @ Jul 26th 2008 8:59AM
ummmmmmmmmmmmmm, well, if you give me free information in the form of a custom advertisement, that's enough reason for me to stop and interact.
idea-bot 9000