And next is TiVo…
For those who don’t know what TiVo is, it is a service which, based on your TV viewing habit, can suggest other shows like the ones you watch. This is in addition to their DVR, which, if programmed to record “Heroes”, will record it every time it airs without you needing to program the individual times. And by watching recorded shows later, you can skip the commercials. The commercials which are about to start becoming “smart”.
Today Google signed a deal with TiVo and DISH Network to allow them to analyze user’s habits and provide them with specific commercials tailored to them. How? TiVo and DISH Network will provide Google with “second-by-second viewing information on who’s changing channels and when, who’s fast-forwarding through commercials and anonymous information on viewers themselves.”
So next time you watch a commercial for the Verizon “There’s a Map for that” instead of fast-forwarding it, you will be sending data to Google…
Is this a breach of privacy? Many people had a problem with the Palm Pre sending crash information to Palm behind their backs. Looks like this will start becoming the new trend. Leave your thoughts in the comments.