Using Facial Recognition To Find the Best Bar 136
nonprofiteer writes "Soon bars will be using facial recognition technology to tell you who's there and their gender breakdown. A start-up called SceneTap is rolling out a new service next month for bars and the patrons who love them: facial detection cameras that will keep track of the number of people in a bar, including a running tally of ladies and gents. Smartphone users will be able to download a free app to 'tap the bar scene' before deciding where to go."
Will be exploited by bars who need more people (Score:4, Insightful)
So there is an application, that will try to indicate which bar is the hip one to be at? Yeah, that will last about a month before bars with less customers figure out how to fake their stats.
Re:Will be exploited by bars who need more people (Score:5, Insightful)
People are clueless. (Score:4, Insightful)
Completely floors me what people will give up with regards to privacy. Then again, this is yet another shining example that sex sells.
This is really necessary? I probably would NOT end up going to bars that use this technology, but then again, I'm not one of the ignorant sheep who feels this is an "innocent gesture" or a "cool app to have on my phone". Big Brother at it's finest, portraying themselves as the sheep in wolves clothing.
Oh and for you married folks out there, might want to reconsider hitting the bars looking for your next extramarital affair. I can already see this tech being (ab)used by divorce attorneys and private investigators.
Re:Will be exploited by bars who need more people (Score:4, Insightful)
Yep...any bar that has this tech and uses it that I know of.....loses MY business, and I will pass the word around not to go to those either.
What's next...all this software is put up against what you order/drink, and sent straight to the squad car sent outside? Or maybe to your health insurer so he can see your 'healthy' habits and adjust your premiums accordingly?
WTF is with the war on every day life anonymity?
Re:People are clueless. (Score:4, Insightful)
That was my first reaction ... I'm not sure I'm comfortable with random commercial establishments doing full-on facial recognition. It's sure as hell not opt-in, and at what point does this happen every public place I'm in? Way too much erosion of privacy and way too much surveillance society.
The whole notion kind of skeeves me out a little ... as you say "Big Brother at it's finest, portraying themselves as the sheep in wolves clothing."
Do not want.