A patent recently filed by Google for an synergistic video avail is chock full of new details , but the most interesting is this one : “ an image seizure equipment ( for instance , digital television camera , video recording recorder , etc . ) can be used to measure how many TV audience are watching or listening to a broadcast . ”
According to the patent of invention , the main point of the system is to identify audio within a television program and compare it to the appropriate reference material for identification . After that , it aggregate “ individualize information colligate to the media broadcast . ”
What sort of personalized information ? On one hand , Google wants to layer in completing websites and other data — I hope this mean the IMDB tab I ’ve been waitress for , but it also refers to the old “ bribe what the raging actress on Letterman is wear down ” function . On the other script , Google is really test to rick your goggle box watching into a societal experience that would be a pot smoother than log into a reckoner . The end is to divvy up a viewing and natter experience simultaneously , but this does n’t seem to report for the fact that DVRs have made realtime TV watching an antiquated construct .
More significantly to us , but way down in the filing , another chassis of analysis besides audio evaluation is discussed , that of using a still or video tv camera for “ pattern matching ” :
Various known rule - matching algorithms can be put on to an image or a chronological sequence of images to set the number of TV audience present in a programme environment during a especial programme . The images and or data point derive from the images can be used in combining with audio descriptors to assemble personalized entropy for a substance abuser , compute popularity ratings , or for any other purpose .
For any other role ? OK , Google — thanks for bring in me finger reeeeeeaaaal well-heeled about your plans . [ US Patent OfficeviaNew Scientist ]
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