Monday, September 19, 2011

Facial Recognition Software May be the New Edge to PR

Facial Recognition software to target consumers?

Facial recognition software has been an element of science fiction stories and television shows for decades. The truth is that real facial recognition software has been used for social, security and creative reasons for more than 10 years now.

Marketers are now getting into the game when it comes to clever uses of this technology. Could facial recognition become part of your marketing mix?

Facial recognition is no longer the stuff of fiction, but a technology woven into our everyday lives. Take Facebook, for example: Facial recognition is key to the automatic picture tags applied to every photograph loaded onto the site.

Empirical studies have shown that when faced with too many choices, buyers will naturally gravitate to familiar sources. This instinct can be leveraged with the use of some high-tech facial recognition technology for successful marketing results.

Consider these possibilities:


• Logging into social platforms through facial recognition rather than usernames and passwords. Just a glance through the camera in your PC or mobile device and you can automatically have access to Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

• At retail outlets, every time a recognized customer enters the location, a specially designed coupon or offer can be sent to their mobile device for instant use.

• Televisions can be outfitted with facial recognition technology so that when individual family members turn on the tube, the TV would create a playlist based on his or her preferences and viewing history.

• Video gamers can log in by facial recognition alone and start gaming spontaneously; game manufacturers can incorporate advertising into the game platform geared to each user’s unique profile.

• Logging onto such sites as Digg or Stumble Upon, facial recognition would provide users with a personalized list of news items, products or websites that reflect their interests.

The everyday application of this biometric may be a while off, but the theory behind it is elemental in today’s marketing efforts: If you help buyers develop a personal relationship with your brand, you’re bound to improve results.

http://prdaily.com/Main/Articles/9534.aspx

I stumbled upon this article after I had edited my facebook privay settings...I had no idea that there was technology that could potentially recognize when pictures that look like you are uploaded by a friend. That astounded me! When I went on the internet to learn more this article popped up on PRDaily and I found it fascinating that this technology is now being linked to my future profession as well as marketing and advertising spectrums.

Kyle E. Sessions

2 comments:

Sara Bergmanson said...

Sounds really cool but a little creepy!

Sean Santarelli said...

This is going too far.