Google DVRs and TV Advertising

Ray writes "Google may be creating their own branded digital television DVR / satellite service. A DVR that lets you "Log In" with your Google Account before you begin your television watching would allow Google to serve up relevant ads based on: the program you are watching, your search history, the type of emails you have received in the past 24 hours (excluding spam hopefully), or anything else Google can track. Imagine the possibilities... You are watching Google Satellite TV through your "internet ready" Google DVR."

Comments

in other news...

[revery]

In other news, Google may be releasing their own branded digital toilet. A toilet that lets you "log in" to your Google account before you do your business would allow Google's complex waste analysis algorithms (codenamed CrapSense) to serve up relevant ads (printed on GTicker toilet paper) based on what you have eaten recently, your hydration level, or anything else Google can track.

Imagine the possibilities.

Re:you're not thinking of the big picture

[xiando]

I strongly disagree with "but don't think the privacy of your tv is more important than your online privacy" for ONE simple reason.

Most people run Windows on their computers and are thereby at the whim of a company who is still telling you a airplane hit the Pentagon on 11. September 2001 http://thewebfairy.com/killtown/flight77.html http://www.google.com/search?q=pentagon+flight+77 in their so-called Encyclopedia even though it is so much evidence one did not that it should be totally obvious even to a four year old, but with computers, at least you have a choice. There are other choices like Linux available. You can choose to run a Operating System where you have complete access to the source code.

But when it comes to Television, you traditionally have absolutely no control what so ever what the device is doing. You have to blindly put your faith in the hands of the corporation who provided you with the device. With a computer, you can encrypt your e-mail, deny sites to set cookies and so forth. You are control. With a TV-type device, you are generally NOT. That is why I find it far more important to ensure that such devices respect your privacy; You simply have to accept the software in the device where as a computer allows you to completely customize it according to your privacy preferences.