Big Brother is listening to you...

[kneeshooter]

Researchers at Google have been talking up work on linking search engines with audio information. This might, for example, involve your PC listening on a TV programme being watched, identifying it and then presenting tailored search results such as the IMDB entry of a film or the website of the star currently on screen.

Analysts aren't convinced this technology will result in a finished commercial product but the idea that a PC knows what point you are in a film and offering the car or even domestic appliance that features in that scene for sale is either incredibly interesting or quite scary depending on your viewpoint.

http://www.dtg.org.uk/news/news.php?class=countries&subclass=0&id=1741

Comments

[echo-echo.livejournal.com]

I don't think the audio section is needed. I think something linking either tv schedules to content or embedding tags in the content would be a far more workable solution. Similar to how you can attach a subtitles track to a movie.

It's not far off what you get already in some shows with interactive digital. Press the red button during adverts and they pop up with more info. I'm sure that could be adapted.

[kneeshooter]

I think this is based on the assumption that there is no other information available. For example the PC might just be "switched on" in the corner of the room while a DVD is being played. Of course it's very different if there are lots of other sources of informantion.

[echo-echo.livejournal.com]

I don't think it will be too long before the DVD player will be talking to the PC.

Musicbrainz et al shows it can work...I'm not entirely convinced there is a need for it though yet.

I mean, you'd have to have the PC running the audio recognition software for what? So it can deliver you extra info on the product placement? Tell you what 'that' car or 'that' song is? You can probably get that info off Google in seconds.

It might be a nice geek toy (and I might be completely wrong) but I'm not convinced there is a massive need for movie recognition from audio.

[kneeshooter]

The need for the PC is one of the reasons why this idea is unlikely ever to progress beyond "interesting".

I agree someone will have to come up with a reason to have the PC running and a microphone attached - but that's just a challenge to clever minds surely!

It's more than just movies though - for example if the soundtrack to an advert was known that could be used to change the "Ads by Google" on your next search for example. Where there is potential data on users habits there are $$$.