CNBC Special Report: Big Brother, Big Business

[cwerdna]

I happened to record this show on my TiVo because of a ad for it. It was pretty good. Most of it is stuff I already knew about but some if it was a little surprising.

Example: I didn't know that stores have software that takes input from their security cameras and track people in a store and how long they're staying in a particular area. If someone is at an area for over a certain threshold, they can dispatch a clerk to ask "Can I help you?"

It looks like it'll be rerun only one more time (on 11/23, check your TV listings/PVRs). There's a blurb on it at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15519811/.

[daniel]

Big brother, or customer service? A shoplifter is not likely to loiter. When I am in one spot for a long time, it's usually because I can't find what I'm looking for. A clerk is then much appreciated.

I witnessed a shoplifting once. I was 19 years old, and I was with a couple I had just met. He did the shopping while I bought a couple of things I needed. meanwhile, she walked, without hurrying or loitering, over to the dairy section, picked up a carton of milk, and walked out with it right past the cashier, holding it in plain view. The boldness of it shocked me.

[jmccord]

While today's "Big Brother" technology is unsettlingly invasive, as a former retail store owner, I can also attest to the large losses incurred by merchants. Whether businesses pay the price of these deterrents or suffer the theft itself, this is just another cost of doing business passed on to every honest consumer.

[Salsawonder]

It isn't just here. On the streets in Florence and Rome you would look up and see cameras in odd places. Really pay attention to your surroundings and you may see cameras in the strangest places.

Every purchase you make with a debit or credit card is tracked, the way you pay your bills, what you did on vacation. The reasons behind it are many, looking for theft (one reason that I hate WalMart-they always think that everyone is there to rob them), personal security and the ever present "terrorist threat!

Think about your junk mail too, much of it is generated from information on recent purchases. "Someone" sees you buying certain products and puts your name on a list to recieve information on products X,Y and Z.

Big Business is Big Brother, Corporations are heaven and the dollar is God. Welcome to the USA!

[cwerdna]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Salsawonder @ Nov 12 2006, 08:00 AM) [snapback]347814[/snapback]</div>

Every purchase you make with a debit or credit card is tracked, the way you pay your bills, what you did on vacation. The reasons behind it are many, looking for theft (one reason that I hate WalMart-they always think that everyone is there to rob them), personal security and the ever present "terrorist threat!

Think about your junk mail too, much of it is generated from information on recent purchases. "Someone" sees you buying certain products and puts your name on a list to recieve information on products X,Y and Z.

Big Business is Big Brother, Corporations are heaven and the dollar is God. Welcome to the USA!
[/b]

Yep, the documentary talked about data mining companies like Choicepoint and Axciom.

[Godiva]

Did they mention hotels and the new key cards?

The hotel computers know when you've left your room so the maids can clean it.

[cwerdna]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Godiva @ Nov 12 2006, 04:29 PM) [snapback]347970[/snapback]</div>

Did they mention hotels and the new key cards?

The hotel computers know when you've left your room so the maids can clean it.
[/b]

No, they didn't. They did touch upon RFID tags injected into people amongst other things.

Since you mentioned hotels, "CNBC On Assignment: Las Vegas, Inc." was pretty good. The blurb from http://www.nbcunicable.com/insidenbccable/...r/August05.html says "Exactly 100 years ago, Las Vegas was a dusty spot in the Nevada desert. Today, it's a high-flying city-on-adrenaline that is growing fast even though its main attraction, casinos, face increasingly intense competition. "CNBC on Assignment: Las Vegas, Inc." anchored by Dylan Ratigan, reveals the secrets and strategies of the biggest business brains in Vegas, showing exactly why Vegas is America's fastest-growing big city. This one-hour program will show you how business is really done, from the inside out."

The amount of data they have on guests and gamblers is pretty scary. What was kind of neat was the RFID tags inside chips (for table games). They also showed an experimental system where playing cards have RFID tags in them so that remotely, the house can see what's on the table including cards which are face down/not visible on camera. Unfortunately, the Las Vegas documentary won't be rerun in the next two weeks.

[chimohio]

I hope none of us are surprised by this. If we are, we're kidding ourselves.

[daniel]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Godiva @ Nov 12 2006, 04:29 PM) [snapback]347970[/snapback]</div>

Did they mention hotels and the new key cards?

The hotel computers know when you've left your room so the maids can clean it.
[/b]

I doubt this, since you don't use the key card to leave the room.

Also my experience: There are times when I've been out of my room for several hours and when I return they have not cleaned, and other times the maid knocks while I am in the room, wanting to know if she can clean it. If you want the room cleaned you have to put out the "Please clean" sign. These are four and five-star hotels.

And with couples, there are two key cards. One may go out while the other remains, or they may go out together taking only one card.

[Godiva]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daniel @ Nov 12 2006, 11:23 PM) [snapback]348033[/snapback]</div>

I doubt this, since you don't use the key card to leave the room.

Also my experience: There are times when I've been out of my room for several hours and when I return they have not cleaned, and other times the maid knocks while I am in the room, wanting to know if she can clean it. If you want the room cleaned you have to put out the "Please clean" sign. These are four and five-star hotels.

And with couples, there are two key cards. One may go out while the other remains, or they may go out together taking only one card.
[/b]

Well, it registers whenever the doors is opened. Yes, they do knock anyway, in case you've simply opened the door and then closed it again. And the maids do have shifts and floors. But your room is still monitored. They certainly know each time the key is put in the door.