- cross-posted to:
- privacy@lemmy.ml
- technology@beehaw.org
- cross-posted to:
- privacy@lemmy.ml
- technology@beehaw.org
Imagine your car playing you an ad based on your destination, vehicle informationâand listening to your conversations.
Ford has patented a system that, per the filing, would use several different sources of information to customize ad content to play in your car. One such information stream that this hypothetical system would use to determine what sort of ads to serve could be could be the voice commands youâve given to the car. It could also identify your voice and recognize you and your ad preferences, and those of your passengers. Finally, it could listen to your conversations and determine if itâs better to serve you a visual ad while youâre talking, or an audio ad when thereâs a lull in the conversation.
If the system described in the patent knew that you were headed to the mall on the freeway based on destination information from the nav system and vehicle speed, it could consider how many ads to serve in the time youâll be in the car, and whether to serve them on a screen or based through the audio system. If you respond more positively to audio ads, it might serve you more of thoseâhow does every five minutes sound?
But what if the weatherâs bad, traffic is heavy, and youâre chatting away with your passenger? Ford describes the system using the external sensors to perceive traffic levels and weather, and the internal microphone to understand conversational cadence, to âregulate the number (and relevance) of ads shownâ to the occupants. Using the GPS, if it knows youâve parked near a store, it might serve you ads relevant to that retail location. Got passengers? Maybe you get an audio ad, and they get a visual one.
Given how consumers feel about advertising and in-car privacy, it is difficult to imagine an implementation of this system that wouldnât generate blowback. But again, the patent isnât describing some imminent implementation; it just protects Fordâs IP that describes a possible system. That said, with the encroachment of subscription-based features, perhaps itâs only a matter of time before youâre accepting a $20/month discount to let your new Ford play you ads on your commute.
Ads at the pump? What do you live? Luckily I havenât seen them in Germany yet. Guess itâs only a matter of timeâŠ
Oh just wait. They are motivating me further to go electric. Very widespread across the US and very loud. Despite what people love to say about mute buttons on forums, many do not have a mute option.
USA - Washington DC Metro Area
Been happening for years now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSk3coye5Jg
Yeah we got those. You come back from work or a late road trip, maybe listening to quiet jazz to temper things down, suddenly at the pump this over powering buzzing noise âthe all new slushy! Get them today! Itâs inside! One free on every 50 fill ups! See inside for details!â.
Iâve seem them in France, but they are rare.