Retina scanning for security and fingerprinting are par for the course these days for many travellers (especially entering the US) – but what about a facial recognition tool to get deals?
This is the idea behind FaceDeals, a temporary name (“this lab project is not affiliated Facebook. We’re working on a brand new name to take this technology to market”) being used by its creator RedPepper to introduce a system which recognises faces of consumers so they can check in to destination services and get special offers.
Facial recognition cameras are placed in local facilities (bars, restaurants, hotels, etc) which will match the face of the user to its database, instantly giving them a deal based on the user’s Facebook “like” history. If they’ve “liked” the location, get a deal on a service.
RedPepper says:
“Facebook check-ins are a powerful mechanism for businesses to deliver discounts to loyal customers, yet few businesses – and fewer customers – have realized it.
“A search for businesses with active deals in our area turned up a measly six offers. The odds we’ll ever be at one of those six spots are low (a strip club and photography studio among them), and the incentives for a check-in are not nearly enticing enough for us to take the time.
“So we set out to evolve the check-in and sweeten the deal, making both irresistible.”
Here is a clip:
Meanwhile, Pebble is another piece of kit attracting some attention recently. In the simplest terms it is an e-paper watch which syncs to a user’s Apple or Android mobile device.
Why would you want to do that?
The watch talks to a mobile device and essentially allows it to act as a satellite, meaning content is streamed both ways so the user can check their email, read messages and browse some of the apps contained on the original handset.
Pebble says it is creating apps specifically for use with the watch (video here), such as fitness monitors, control iTunes music etc.
But perhaps where this might have a use in travel is around security and personal safety – guidebooks are forever telling travellers to be careful when walking around busy areas in destinations that they may be unfamiliar with, and therefore they should leave mobiles and other valuable locked away in a hotel.
A device like Pebble, if it can eventually carry maps and other tools as well as the existing apps, might find itself as a handy device for nervy travellers.
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About Kevin May
Not retina scanning … iris scanning !!
The retina is at the back of the eye, and in the movies a low powered laser is used to examine the unique vein pattern on the retina. It’s a bit scary, but very accurate.
The Iris is the coloured ring around the pupil and a standard camera is used to examine the unique pattern on the iris. Not at all scary and just as accurate.
Sorry, pet peev, especially when it’s a “tech” site that should know better!!
@karl – hey, thx for the comment and sharing your peeve!
yes, we are a “tech” site, but unlike some others we’re also always happy to be corrected
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The Red Pepper iris scanning sounds like the beginning of the Minority Report vision:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kx9IEP8pmiI
The key issue around the success of this approach is the level of personalization that can be achieved by scanning your Facebook likes. Though I believe personalized mobile offers are the future (whether delivered through iris scanning or other means), but the key will be how well it really matches your preferences and more importantly your context (what you are doing at the moment).
I backed Pebble on Kickstarter, but wasn’t aware you could actually leave your phone behind and the apps’d still work. My understanding is the phone has to be within bluetooth range, ie a few metres, for the apps to work. It’s actually the phone doing all the connecting and the pebble doing the display.
But hey, I could be wrong. Can’t really find a clear answer one way or the other, but it seems like a useful little gadget regardless