Google Gets Patent to Track Background Noise Through Your Phone to Better Target Ads
- Posted on March 21, 2012 at 10:32am by
Liz Klimas
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Google can already used location-tracking technology to better target ads and search results, but a new patent awarded Tuesday is taking it a step further. With its new patent, the company could someday use “environmental conditions” to sense where you’re at or what you may need and advertise accordingly.
How the sensors would detect environmental conditions and allow for targeted advertising. (Image: Google/ U.S. Patent 8138930)
While this may sound creepy, before you get concerned, GeekWire points out that within the patent Google states that users would have control of whether or not to use this feature:
The patent acknowledges that “it is important to respect the privacy of the users,” and explains that users would have the option of “enabling or disabling some or all of the sensors for the purpose of gathering information to support advertisements,” as governed by a privacy policy.
According to the patent, environmental conditions would be determined by “a signal output from a sensor of the remote device or a sensor coupled to the remote device.” An advertisement would then be identified based on the environmental condition. Sensors could pick up information such as sound, temperature, humidity, light and air composition.
Here are a few examples of how ads could be targeted based on environmental conditions, according to the patent:
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Google would take into account sounds at a stadium such as this to help fans find a restaurant to go to after the game. (Photo: Bisayan Lady/Flickr)
If sensors pick up a temperature above a certain threshold, air conditioners could be advertised. On the flip side, if temperatures are sensed below a certain threshold, winter coats or heaters could be featured.
- Noisy levels detected a few days in a row for long periods of time? Advertise for sound canceling headphones.
- Location sensors see you’re stuck in a traffic jam day after day. Bring on the ads for mass transit or carpooling.
- What if you‘re at a sports stadium and you call Google’s 411 service looking for a place to grab a bite. Sound sensors pick up the roar of cheers and couple that with location-based technology to suggest appropriate venues for dinner afterward.
Phones aren’t the only devices Google envisions this sort of targeted advertising to affect either. The patent mentions the potential for digital billboards, digital kiosks or vending machines to have these environmental condition sensors as well.
GeekWire points out that there is no indication that Google will move forward with implementing this technology, but it is not out of the realm of possibility with this new patent.
[H/T: PC World]
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ContinentalArmy
Posted on March 22, 2012 at 10:41amBig Govt. Is Watching, Constantly!
Report Post »davidwjohnson
Posted on March 22, 2012 at 12:29amI can see it now. I’m sitting on the crapper waiting way too long for you know what, and an ad pops up on my smart phone for Dulcolax stool softener.
Report Post »MrObvious
Posted on March 21, 2012 at 11:16pmmuch ad-due about nothing. (pun intended)
Report Post »steely_eyes
Posted on March 21, 2012 at 10:57pmI think it’s safe to say Google has too much fiat money in this ponzi economy.
Report Post »Legal Immigrant
Posted on March 21, 2012 at 6:14pmWhite noise generator app to interfere with the tracker app.
Or a hammer.
Report Post »AyaTolla U
Posted on March 21, 2012 at 8:19pmWho ever writes a white noise app will be a billionaire in a year.
Report Post »Walter2012
Posted on March 21, 2012 at 4:47pmhmm….kick the bums in congress that get huge monetery support (bribes) from these tech-o-demons to invade our privacy. Kick all the members of congress out! Google that!
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on March 21, 2012 at 3:00pmOH! This is sooo “Minority Report”
Report Post »jkendal
Posted on March 21, 2012 at 2:31pmI gave up using Google the minute I found out they give MILLIONS to leftist politicians and leftist causes. They don’t reach me.
By the way, Breitbart is here…..
Report Post »jcldwl
Posted on March 21, 2012 at 2:01pmUnfortunatly the sheeple will not give up their iphones and google because they are just that, sheeple. They will be the first ones in a crisis to head to the location given them by their iphones through google so the government can weed through them to see who gets to stay and who gets to go. And by stay and go I mean live and die.
Report Post »christos
Posted on March 21, 2012 at 1:08pm…….Always remember the +HOLY SPIRIT+ is not Limited Google IS,,,,,,,choose being led by +JESUS+GOD+ through our +HOLY SCRIPTURES+ King James Bible,,,,,,Google may know where many things are to be located,,,,,,but they are Spiritually Lost……They seem to have Lost their Signal for the +HOLY SPIRIT+ ,,,TA
Report Post »BeingThere
Posted on March 21, 2012 at 1:05pmGoogle is fraking evil!!!!!! Stop using them!!!!!!
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on March 21, 2012 at 1:42pmGod help the man who, walking down the street, is passed by a car blaring out the Motley Crue tune “Girls, Girls, Girls”. His wife is going to kill him when he turns on his iPhone and an add for a strip club pops up. :)
Report Post »ThankBabyJesus
Posted on March 21, 2012 at 12:48pmGoogle can shove it
Report Post »gapch12
Posted on March 21, 2012 at 12:35pmMight just as well get used to it, we are no longer free to carry on our business as usual. Most people seem to like the idea that IPhone let others know exactly where you are whening placing a call. At least Google is letting you know upfront and that you can disable it maybe.
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on March 21, 2012 at 1:43pmSure you are. Is the iPhone grafted to your hand or something and you can’t put it down and go about your business without it? Are you incapable of buying a no frills, voice only cell phone without “apps”?
Report Post »JEANNIEMAC
Posted on March 21, 2012 at 6:55pmAlthough I think a phone that can take videos, cruise the internet, send email etc. is really cool, I carry a phone that makes and receives calls or texts. That is it. And I keep it turned off most of the time except to make a call or check every few hours to see if a call came in and from whom.
Report Post »mrmachaveli
Posted on March 21, 2012 at 12:20pmDoes anyone else wish – that they had the money to start their own cell and internet business. To provide internet and cell phone access and put in the contract with their customers, that they do not and will not ever track any of the things they do or go. Imagine the money that business could make.
Report Post »marthasusan40
Posted on March 21, 2012 at 12:33pmI agree, I wish I could wave a magic wand and poof…a new internet and cell phone company would be created, one that respected your privacy and didn’t sell you out.
Report Post »VoteBushIn12
Posted on March 21, 2012 at 12:42pmPlease tell me how you would make any money at all?
The whole reason Google can give you all these great tools FOR FREE is because they are selling your information to companies who can then better market ads to you. If you take away the information gathering you take away all the ad revenue and now, suddenly, YOU are going to have to pay for the services.
Your company idea is idealistic and naive. No one is going to pay 10 cents per google search. I wont, and you wont.
Report Post »Jumper
Posted on March 21, 2012 at 11:26amThis is so Orwellian I don’t even like thinking about it. If Google can do this, what should make any of us think that the government isn’t already doing the same thing, just without the advertising crap? This is getting to be like some screwy version of Orwell’s 1984, Minority Report, and The Matrix. I vote for going back to the technology of about 1983, I think we were all doing just fine.
Report Post »SgtB
Posted on March 21, 2012 at 12:18pmPretty soon we’ll all feel like Fry in Futurama after he started having advertisements beamed into his dreams. I’m surprised that Google is still in business. Personally, I haven’t used any of their products since they came public with their policy to pay homosexuals more than straight people.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on March 21, 2012 at 11:24amOh little Johny if you keep doing that you will get a spanking; I’m telling you will get a spanking, there’s a spanking coming, and coming. Johny I told you if you keep doing that there is a spanking coming, and then if you keep doing it you will get a spanking. Johny, why did you do that again? I told you there is a spanking coming, and you will get one eventually. Oh, you did it again Johny and I will eventually give you a spanking. Meanwhile: Johny is slowly getting prepared for his spanking imagining the worse pain in the world so it doesn’t make an emotional impact on him, and he knows that it will at least be another month before he gets a spanking again. And since Johny has had so much warning about his coming spanking, Johny was smart enough to put on two pairs of pants so he won’t really feel it anyways, and Johny will just keep doing all the things that his parents don’t like.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on March 21, 2012 at 11:30amThis is why Glenn Beck has never been unplugged. The hope for the U.S will come from people who don’t listen to Glenn Beck.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on March 21, 2012 at 11:37amFOX News would have been more smart to have never had him on FOX. Because it is the couching Lion away from the kill which is the most deadly. And that’s something I just happen to know.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on March 21, 2012 at 11:39amYou Progressives have no damned Idea of the Hurricane you are about to stir-up.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on March 21, 2012 at 11:41amThere is nothing under the sun that will save you progressives when Judah stands.
Report Post »HorseCrazy
Posted on March 21, 2012 at 11:22amcreepy. enough already google.
Report Post »One Man Progressive Wrecking Crew
Posted on March 21, 2012 at 11:19amHey Google, can you pick up THIS background noise, you’ve gotten out of control…
┌∩┐(◣_◢)┌∩┐ ┌∩┐(◣_◢)┌∩┐
Report Post »SgtB
Posted on March 21, 2012 at 12:15pmWhere did you get all of those characters from?
Report Post »TH30PH1LUS
Posted on March 21, 2012 at 11:16amRemember in the movie The Matrix how humans were nothing more than batteries to power the machines?
To GOOGLE you are just a thing to monitor & manipulate to squeeze as many pennies out of as possible.
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on March 21, 2012 at 11:08amLet’s cancel our phones and get back to walking and talking to one another. Let’s bury the bugs.
Report Post »Mr.Fitnah
Posted on March 21, 2012 at 10:58amYeah this is a great idea I suggest everyone carrry a whoopie cushion (as if you are not already) to krank the mainframe.
Report Post »spirited
Posted on March 21, 2012 at 10:56amGreat money making venture to drown out location noises for privacy:
>A voice-activated phone attachment of continuous ‘bathroom’ sounds
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on March 21, 2012 at 10:53am“If I were the devil I‘d tell you gold isn’t valuable”…..blah blah. If I were the devil not only would I tell material gold is valuable, I’d bend you even farther to tell you “material” paper is valuable.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on March 21, 2012 at 10:47amWhat are you doing Glenn? You are not fighting the good fight anymore. Now you are giving people no hope, by telling people the Progressives have accomplished their agenda. How is the Lord going to hear their cries if you make them predisposed to shock.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on March 21, 2012 at 10:47amCreepier and creepier … this is a “service” (phone) that I PAY FOR … why should others have access to ANY of it?
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