Microsoft’s new Kinect-based ad program to ‘spy on’ TV audience for feedback

Microsoft is evidently working to introduce a special ad program that will revolutionize the TV advertising arena. Through its Kinect motion sensor technology, the new ad program can recognize the audience preferences and broadcast the right ads to them. The program called the NUads, or Natural User-interface Ads will let advertisers watch the audience and find their responses towards ads through their expressions and actions thanks to Kinect sensor.

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Well, the audience feedback will be gathered through the Kinect motion sensing technology, which Microsoft originally developed for Xbox 360 gaming console. But, these days Kinect is largely used for a big variety of technologies as it can capture the voice, actions and gestures of users. Indeed, Microsoft’s NUads program is basically designed to help advertisers distinguish the right ads for certain audience. It will allow the advertisers spy on people’s response to various ads and thus to place the best ads for people.

The trend of skipping through the commercials has recently increased as people would like to watch only TV programs. That is why it is highly essential for advertisers to have a system that will let them find audience responses to their ads. Well, the NUads program will open them an opportunity to keep an eye on audience. Microsoft previewed the feature at the Cannes International Advertising Festival in June, 2011.

However, there is a critical issue of privacy with this feature. Lots of privacy advocates have slammed Microsoft’s upcoming ad program since it openly breaks into the privacy of people. But the Redmond software giant has responded to the fury saying that the company has a good track record in implementing best privacy protection to its users. The new feature, which is reportedly for the spring release, will also attend the privacy issues with much caution, the company spokesperson recently said.

Via: CNET/Neowin