Home Gaming Microsoft isn't using the Kinect for advertising…yet

Microsoft isn't using the Kinect for advertising…yet

1 min read
29

I see you there

A new rumour popped up last week that Microsoft were planning on using the Kinect to record your face and emotions and then upload this data to the cloud, they would then match the advertising you see to the mood you currently are in.

They could then go even further and store the trends of the moods leaving many a married man worried about what sort of advertising may begin to be shown to his wife. While it may be effective to advertise divorce lawyers and knives at certain periods it really wouldn’t be in the best interest of humanity.

However Microsoft has come out and denied that they are planning anything of the sort. A Microsoft marketing executive, Albert Penello, has stated via neogaf

"What I think you’re asking about is… how some of the new Xbox One Kinect features *could* be used in advertising – since we can see expressions, engagement, etc. and how that might be used to target advertising. This is the point that seems to draw some controversy.

"First – nobody is working on that. We have a lot more interesting and pressing things to dedicate time towards. It was an interview done speculatively, and I’m not aware of any active work in this space.

"Second – if something like that ever happened, you can be sure it wouldn’t happen without the user having control over it. Period."

Honestly that statement makes me more inclined to believe it will be happening in the near future and to be totally honest I think it is a great idea. If it knew I was behind the console and showed me ads that honestly interested me instead of things that would interest my wife I’d be happy with that.

I don’t really care that they have a trend of my emotions when playing Xbox One somewhere, but maybe I’m missing the risk here?

Pending Patent

Last Updated: October 7, 2013

29 Comments

  1. Unavengedavo (aka. Frik)

    October 7, 2013 at 13:40

    So what advertising would they have given Kristen Stewart if the Kinect had to record her facial expressions and emotions?

    Reply

    • Seraphim

      October 7, 2013 at 13:46

      Real estate in the Antarctic?
      A guide to showing emotions?

      Reply

    • SaintsRowNigri

      October 7, 2013 at 15:14

      Reply

  2. TiMsTeR1033

    October 7, 2013 at 13:46

    This sounds more and more creepy! Imagine that! The kinect will record your expressions and emotions…. Spy on you and the Mrs too no doubt! No thank you MS, I don’t trust that little kinect eye of yours anymore!

    Reply

    • Seraphim

      October 7, 2013 at 13:48

      Microsoft, turning the Mrs. into the Ms. since 2014.

      Reply

  3. TiMsTeR1033

    October 7, 2013 at 13:53

    how to kill Kinect

    Reply

  4. oVg

    October 7, 2013 at 13:53

    Im staying well clear of the XBone… er

    Reply

    • TiMsTeR1033

      October 7, 2013 at 13:54

      The Xboner…..

      Reply

  5. Hammersteyn

    October 7, 2013 at 13:55

    For most online players it will show an add for soap and a disgruntled nun.

    Reply

    • TiMsTeR1033

      October 7, 2013 at 13:55

      Dettol adds! hahaha

      Reply

  6. oVg

    October 7, 2013 at 13:56

    Check 3:30 🙂

    Reply

  7. SaintsRowNigri

    October 7, 2013 at 14:04

    Hmmm. If it could read facial expressions AND body shape

    Reply

    • TiMsTeR1033

      October 7, 2013 at 14:09

      Instantly offer gym contracts, kinect fitness games and free fat camp trips! Then Pizza hut!

      Reply

  8. NecroRince

    October 7, 2013 at 14:07

    Yeah. NO.

    Reply

  9. Martin du preez

    October 7, 2013 at 14:43

    I hope it spams Durex adds to the households where 12 year old COD players are having sex with my mom.

    Reply

  10. Namedtroll

    October 7, 2013 at 15:03

    U have to be very stupid to buy a xblocks one.

    Reply

  11. Pieter Kruger

    October 7, 2013 at 15:14

    GREAT concept! Advertisers will flock to this business model! Opting in on this as a player could potentially get you rewards and discounts galore! So many possibilities, “give this ad a thumbs up/down” or “watch this add with at least 10 other people in the room to get X% off etc.” If this scares you stick with the current gen, sell all your tech and go barter with leafs somewhere else!

    Reply

    • Spathi

      October 7, 2013 at 15:16

      This doesn’t scare me. I just don’t want it. FUCKING TELESALES in my living room on my TV while trying to play games, no thank you! PS4 for me 🙂

      Edit: Look, the tech is awesome! I just don’t want it in my gaming console.

      Reply

      • Pieter Kruger

        October 7, 2013 at 15:18

        You think PSN’s not going to have advertising?? Your TV doesn’t have ads??

        Reply

        • Spathi

          October 7, 2013 at 15:21

          I don’t know, I hope not. But MS seems a lot more keen on it though. If it is largely unintrusive (like the current Xbox ads), although I think it is shit, I learn to live with it. But I don’t want interactive ads or anything that pops up at any stage whatsoever 😀

          Reply

          • Pieter Kruger

            October 7, 2013 at 15:27

            PSN will have ads for sure! Sony might even go further:

          • Spathi

            October 7, 2013 at 15:33

            Hehe, no way in hell Sony will implement that 😀

          • Pieter Kruger

            October 7, 2013 at 15:39

            I really hope not! PSN already have adds. Some are actually forced and much more intrusive than those on XBL. Full page adds when the console start up etc. Yes, those background downloads are awesome! ????

          • Spathi

            October 7, 2013 at 15:42

            What ads?

          • Brian Murphy

            October 7, 2013 at 15:39

            That article is from May 2012 Pieter, and Sony has patented a great many things that’ve never shown up in their gaming sphere.

          • Pieter Kruger

            October 7, 2013 at 15:42

            Even so, imagine the shit storm had MS patented that! LOL!

          • Brian Murphy

            October 15, 2013 at 23:44

            Well, in that particular case, I would have the same response honestly. As I said companies patent lots of things they never use, and should it result in a shitstorm, it would be one of the rare moments where I’d stand up for Microsoft.

            Now…if either company were to actually implement such a thing, yeah, the shitstorm they’d earn would be QUITE warranted.

        • Jonah Cash

          October 7, 2013 at 16:31

          DSTV catch up service….. Maybe one ad which I can fast forward….. Don’t like ads….

          Reply

  12. jp

    October 8, 2013 at 03:03

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