Tesco to scan your face

From disinterested staff, to staff being replaced with self service automated tills, customer service at the supermarkets has never been the best.

But wait, it seems next time you go to Tesco's, they could be even more faceless. They're going to scan your face and let the computer guess your age and gender, so they can target ads at you that they think you might be interested in.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-24803378

Apart from the fact that this shows a total lack of interest in their customers, because if they were interest at all, they'd know that not all, lets say men aged 30 to 40, are interested in, say, furry dice to hang from the rear view mirror, and likewise not all, say, women aged 25 to 30 are going to be interested in nail polish and hair dye. There is also the fact that some people may not want to be scanned and profiled as soon as they walk through the door.

Of course data will be collected. There'd be no point doing it otherwise. Maybe no data will be collected in the actual scanning software other than which advert was shown (which will have to be logged in order to measure the success of a particular ad), but I garauntee that the data from sales will be cross referenced against ads shown and many other datasources. Such is the normal day to day activity in the 'back office' of any marketing department. As for not usinng facial recognition and retna scans, not yet, but only because such technology is still in its infancy and prone to error.

I can see the validity of such kit in high security places, where automation can assist (but not replace) security staff in their duties, but I think its wrong that it should happen in regular day to day mundane places like shops.

 

I can't believe they can get away with this, surely it's an infringement on our rights! At the moment it looks like it will be on the garage forecourts only, that doesn't bother me, there's none here. When they move it to the shops I'll be shopping elsewhere along with a lot of other customers I expect. Do they really think we want extra advertising thrown at us, it's bad enough now! Tesco's will no doubt lose out, it's a sure way of keeping customers from their doors.

 

I too will be boycotting them if they start that, George Orwell was 30 years out..

 

So what's the big deal:

1) You get targeted advertising - what exactly is the problem with that compare to untargeted advertising.

or

2) That the 'highlight to quote' function doesn't work properly? as again so obviously displayed here and reported so many times before?

 

I don't mined, because, i brake the camera lens (yes i'm a ugly mut)

What's going to happen if your half way through a sex change??

 

I would consider such, as an invasion of my personal space and therefore perhaps this could be prosecuted, as an assault, in the eyes (sic) of the law.

Just wondering how they would cope with a Burker (sp), perhaps the wearers of such things would get banned, as they would not be contributing to every little helps.

Or has the Flu medicine got to me....

I begrudgingly use T as it is, this would keep me out full stop.

 

And another thing, doesn't this forum make use of targeted advertising? (based on personal browsing history)

 

I can't see that it's much different from the spooky ads for stuff that pop up on my computer, based on stuff I've just searched for.
However, I think it's a blimmin' disgrace and we should put a stop to it. How about a flash mob converging on Tesco's all wearing burkas, then watch them get their knickers in a twist because they're running low on halal lamb chops.
Or perhaps wearing a werewolf mask should be the default setting for all shopping trips from now on?

 

From the perspective of my old job, this would be a good investigative option, much like CCTV, but having been away from that for nearly two years, it's enough to make me shop elsewhere. Thankfully there isn't a Tesco near enough to me...

 

I think Muslims buy lots of Stuff too, just like (almost) everybody else.

My idea of personal satisfaction is going to Morrisons with my £5 petrol voucher and seeing how many reduced items I can exchange it for, with the grudging addition of a few coins to round it up. They'll be wasting their time filming my irises. Or whatever. I'll start worrying when Lidl and Aldi buy the technology.

 

No Tesco's here either and I sure do not miss it!!

Val

 

:lol: