I just wonder how effective this system really is. Sure, you click a button when you see suspicious activity but how long before someone actually sees it and acts on it. By the time authorities are notified, the criminals would probably be long gone. I assume that this is mainly something for smaller businesses. Larger businesses would be better off with an internal loss prevention team to ensure that shoplifting is at a minimum. One should also consider the privacy issues facing Internet Eyes. After doing some research, it seems as though the only real issue would be someone using the video is a way they're not supposed to, for example, posting it on YouTube. Some people are do feel like it is a serious privacy issue. http://www.itpro.co.uk/blogs-archive/nicolek/2009/10/06/interent-eyes-cctv-game-lets-us-all-be-big-brothers/. However, the company seems to have that situation under control by making you agree to their terms of us. Internet Eyes also gathers their member's personal information, which could also avoid these problems from happening or take action is they do.
Jennifer, I agree with you that bigger businesses would probably be better off with their own loss prevention team. I think for Internet Eyes to have viewers for a large company they would have to have a large amount of viewers for several sections of the store. It would also probably take them a lot longer to get an employee from the store notified before they can catch up to the person doing the crime. Internet Eyes probably works best for small businesses.
ReplyDeleteI honestly don't know how this works for small or big companies because let's say I am registered with Internet Eyes and I am watching a video of the action going on at FootLocker, when I press the button you still have to wait for them to communicate with the police Also someone has to explain what they saw ? and who was stealing by the time they described it to the cops the person walked out and drove home.
ReplyDeleteAnd even if they made this system quicker, there are still many privacy policies that are being violated by this company.
I agree with you that this system is better for smaller business. Small businesses do not have the same resources or income as larger business to contain an internal loss prevention team. Large business contain their own loss prevention team and also have on site police officers or security guards, which is difficult for smaller businesses to contain with limited resources. But this system can effective and immediate, because an instant text and picture message is sent to the store manager when a subscriber pushes the alert button.
ReplyDeleteBritish police do much more street patrols and there would likely be a significant presence on the streets to be able to respond rapidly to a call, but I agree with you the there might be a response issue. That's where I think these couch crime fighters might call in what they believe to be suspicious activity if someone is just lingering because they don't want to risk losing the opportunity to gain points and win money. I really don't think commercializing crime fighting is a good solution.
ReplyDeleteReally good points here.. I happen to agree that this whole program will likely not be very productive. I doubt that Internet Eyes will do much to have any sort of an effect on the high shoplifting rates in the UK.
ReplyDeleteThe only people it could possibly help is small businesses.. I definitely agree with you on that. But really, how much can a bunch of people sitting at their home computer truly help even the smallest businesses? It just doesn't seem effective enough for me.
How funny is that! I also noticed that by the time you catch a crime and the store gets notified, the shoplifter will probably be heading to another store. I agree with you when you say that catching a shoplifter will probably be as hard as finding a needle on the grass. You will also spend 10 hours of continuous “eye watching” to notice someone stealing a pack of Tictacs and getpaid 10cents.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you are saying, I guess they have to come up with a way of notifying the authorities and the stores in a quicker way. Since this is just starting it is not well polish, but I am sure that after they have tried it and see what it work and what doesn't, they will improve just like every 1st generation of anything to make it work the way we want it.
ReplyDeleteI guess we all agree on the fact that this option would be more productive for small businesses, but for big retail chain it might be useful if the idea is modified or upgraded a little bit. what about face recognition software monitoring their big stores? This might work for them.
ReplyDelete"Internet Eyes" would not be productive for a small or large chain. Why not have a security guard sit in the back of the store in a small room and watch the cameras the same way someone who registered would? This would serve the same purpose and keep the footage seen by a limited amount of people. When did this get ruled out??
ReplyDeleteBig branch companies like Best Buy, Bass Pro Shop and Macy's have their own security personnel team which they invested a lot money in. Why would they outsource a security company to do what they have already implemented successfully? in other words pay a company to do less than half of what their team does. Internet Eyes may be able to assist in the surveillance area and in theft reports, but i doubt they would be able to catch the thief in a timely manner by the time the victim company is alerted the thief would be long gone.
ReplyDeleteI definately think this is a good idea because it's not fair for consumers that don't want or even feel their privacy is being violated. How would this icon be published without being overlooked? Or, should we even complain about behavioral advertising? Isn't it supposed to cater to comsumers based on their demographics? This is actually convinient if you think about it.
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