Intel announced that it has created a new division that will be tasked with developing systems and technology for television. The computer giant will initially develop a system that will track the movements and behavior of people watching television and, depending on what they are doing, show them TV programs and advertisements that (in theory) are directly relevant to them.
This is a system for displaying "personalized" programs and advertisements, as services of this type have been called, which are based on methods of monitoring television viewers and Internet users.
The Big Brother TV
The new division has been named Intel Media, and the first system it will create will consist of a camera and sensors that will track viewers. Then a data processing system will analyze and select the ads to show.
"The new service will be very personal, it will watch you, it will learn things about you and ultimately it will be interested in who you are," says Eric Hagers, vice president of the new division. If the system sees a couple watching TV while cuddling, it will choose to show relevant ads such as, for example, florists, condoms, travel agencies, etc.
According to Intel executives, the system will learn the preferences of family members and create a profile of them. Every time a family member watches TV, the system will recognize them and display not only advertisements but also TV programs that match their profile. “Today, TV knows nothing about you and provides the same services for everyone in a house,” Hagers says.
As expected, the announcement provoked reactions from civil rights organizations that raise issues of security and protection of personal data.
