It's just one of those things we read or hear about that really makes it seem like we are stepping into the future. Do you notice when you're searching online or are using GMail and ads show up on the side that are related to what you're looking for or are emailing about? Convenient, helpful and quite a bit scary.
Well this is where the virtual online world meets real life. Video ads in malls and what not can now have cameras hidden in them that are watching you. We have security cameras everywhere, big deal right? Well not only are they watching you, they are gathering information about you. This so-called "primitive" technology can determine your gender accurately 85-90% of the time, approximate age range and in some cases, your ethnicity. That means that companies can not only learn about who is passing their ad stations, but they can also show ads that are relevant to your demographic. As custom-fitted for you as their ads may seem, that just means that they have that much more information about you. The movie "Minority Report" shows a more advanced technology, eye-scanning cameras determine who you are and flash even more custom-fitted ads. That is in 2054 though, it's only 2009.
