Slashdot Mirror
Free Phone Calls... If Advertisers Can Eavesdrop
Dekortage writes "Today, Pudding Media is introducing an Internet phone service similar to Skype's online service, but without any toll charges. The catch: they are eavesdropping on phone calls with voice recognition software to monitor calls, then push conversation-relevant the ads to the subscriber's computer screen. Interestingly, during tests, "conversations [were] actually changing based on what was on the screen," said the president. "Our ability to influence the conversation was remarkable.""
I should discuss my grandma's sweet 'n' sour chicken breast recipe more often...
You can't talk about Wikipedia's flaws on Wikipedia
I can't wait to see ads for hookers and blow on my computer screen.
I mean - more ads for hookers and blow.
Bob: Oh yeah? Oh, is that the free phone calls with conversation-relevant ads showing up on your screen?
Phil: That's right, it's completely free!
Bob: Heh, monkey sex.
Phil: Uh, what?
Bob: Monkey sex!
Phil: Ew, gross, stop that.
Bob: Beastiality.
Phil: Oh yuck, these flash based ads are
Bob: Goatse.
Phil: Ahhhhhhhhh! *click*
My work here is dung.
So adverts shown on screen changed what the callers were talking about?
Me: Hi boss, I was thinking about a raise...
Boss: Hi. Er, did you know you can get herbal viagra?
Any fool can talk, but it takes a wise man to listen.
I'd easily consider taking this on (although it seems to suggest that it's only north american numbers, and they probably don't have a linux client...). Still, whilst it is possible (though unlikely) that a human could listen to what you're saying I have to question whether they would actually want to listen to what I'm saying - or if I would care if they are. Granted I'm not going to use this for telephone banking, and probably not even for calling my girlfriend, I really don't care if they listen to my mum talking for half an hour about her dog or hear me arrange a party... or shout down the phone whilst drunk at people about the importance of egalitarianism (but that's another story...)
*''I can't believe it's not a hyperlink.''
That's just for getting a widget that gives you the illusion that you're tagging the article. For your tag to really show up in the list of tags, something else is needed — some very secret voodoo it seems.
Terrorists can't threaten a country's freedom and democracy. Only lawmakers and voters can do that.
funny. I just made a call yesterday using this system and suddenly I'm getting ads about weapons, espionage, government contractors...
wait a sec. Some men in black are knocking on my window. brb.
"Didn't you have ads in the twentieth century?"
"Well, sure, but not in our dreams. Only on TV and radio... and in magazines... and movies, and at ballgames, and on buses, and milk cartons, and T-shirts, and bananas, and written in the sky. But not in dreams, no sirree."
It's like Echelon got drunk and woke up next to a spam-bot. Man, that's an ugly child.
I'm not letting anyone profit off *my* communications.
... as long as I log in?
What's next? Free comment-sections on websites?
How could anyone subject themselves to such a sacrifice of personal liberties.
------ The best brain training is now totally free : )
The parent post is brought to you by: Gradma's old-fashioned posts. Remember a time when discussions weren't threaded? Gradma does.
It's a real relief that the ads won't change based on what you're thinking...
Terrorists can't threaten a country's freedom and democracy. Only lawmakers and voters can do that.
"This most persuasive ad brought to you by Heckler & Koch."
True confidence comes not from realising you are as good as your peers, but that your peers are as bad as you are.
You get a virus.
True confidence comes not from realising you are as good as your peers, but that your peers are as bad as you are.
So why aren't all of our calls paid for by the US Government, then?
That is hilarious. A sheeple tag gets added based on suggestion.
"The tags on the article were actually chaning based on what the first post recommended.", said one editor, "it was amazing how much he was able to influence the tagging." Or the like.
"Sacrifice for the good of The State" - The State