Discussion on:

Security cameras track shopper preferences?

I want to do a consumer study on how retailers collect information and want to station cameras outside the stores. Creepy or what!

I have no problem with security, I don't want an unknown company taking unknown information and doing unknown things with it.

When you create another use for the Video Content (beyond Security) now you have a real ROI. One that makes sense. Tracking is nothing new - some call it analytics. But only until recently have these tools been available to a more wider audience.

I have Hulu-Plus which ALWAYS wants to improve my "Ad Experience" and Netflix, which is trying to prognosticate my tastes based on what I just watched. I don't make buying choices based on Commercials and my tastes are WAY too eclectic to be analyzed. Until I simply got tired of even bothering to interact with Hulu's "Ad optimization" App, I would change my answers and options on a regular basis. About the only thing I do when shopping is "Price & Support" compare. Other than that, any attempt to confirm a pattern is not only pointless, but likely to skew the outcome. I suggest this is likely happening with ALL this data, as humans are know to be a rather capricious species. As this skewed Data adds up, the forecast models will become evermore useless. As I think of the folks who will be buying into Facebook's $100M IPO, I can't help but snicker.

Good plan. Process could crowd source store layout optimization. Privacy is just something we will have to get over.

What is to prevent unscrupulous store owners and/or software authors from analyzing camera data gleaned from cameras aimed (for instance) at men's and ladies room doors. They can then determine if a particular shopper is spending too much time in the john and target them for laxatives, diuretics, toilet paper, etc How about cameras aimed at the sanitary napkin aisle, or the condom shelves? That might make a few shoppers a bit queasy!!
What we need is a clever hardware engineer to come up with a camera-jamming device, just like the one that now can be used to remotely change a TV channel, turn down the audio, or turn it off!

interesting and yet disturbing these applications of the cameras invade privacy in a very subtle.

Security Cameras

I really doubt that "tracking" what I buy on any given day can predict what I might buy in the future.

Security cameras in shopping retail store are very important part. It help in many form for different purpose.