Why facial recognition means a better customer experience
In the movie Minority Report, Tom Cruise walks through a mall, past a series of translucent screens all displaying highly targeted ads, personalized specifically for him.
Of course, targeted ads aren’t new; personalized mailers have existed for decades and targeting is becoming increasingly prevalent online. But so far, it’s something that has remained outside of public spaces, like malls, banks, and retailers.
Hamzeh Al Fuqha, CEO of SmartAd, wants to change that. His company, a recent recipient of funding through AC JumpStart, has developed facial recognition software that can identify factors like the age, gender, and even emotional response of viewers, allowing advertising to dynamically adjust to suit the viewer.
But unlike the advertisers in Minority Report, SmartAd doesn’t want to know who you are, but simply to analyze a few details to help ensure the content you see is relevant to you. The data is anonymous, but the impact is big: viewers get a more relevant experience and advertisers get a better sense of what’s working for different demographics.
Al Fuqha was recently interviewed on CBC Radio. Click here to listen to the broadcast and learn more about this incredible technology.
