Earlier this year, everyone freaked out when Facebook announced it would start using facial recognition to automatically tag photos you upload. Even smartphones are implementing facial recognition. Google's new version of Android, Ice Cream Sandwich, uses the technology to unlock your smartphone when you look at it. (Unfortunately, it can be easily tricked with a photo.)
But that's just the tip of the iceberg. Facial recognition is being implemented everywhere. Even in bars. The New York Times recently profiled a neat company called SceneTap. The company sets up cameras in bars and analyzes the crowd. Are they young? Old? Mostly male? Mostly female? People nearby can open the SceneTap app and find out. Then they can decide if they want to go to the venue based on the people there.
Why it's innovative:
Let's put privacy concerns aside for a moment. Facial recognition has the potential to bring targeted marketing to the next level. Imagine walking by a billboard and getting an ad targeted to your age or gender. The technology already exists, and it's going to spread. Hello, Minority Report.