Video Surveillance Tech Detects Abnormal Activity

Repton writes with news of a company, Behavioral Recognition Systems, that has received 16 patents on a new video surveillance application that can convert video images into machine-readable language, and then analyze them for anomalies that suggest suspicious behavior in the camera's field of view. The software can 'recognize' up to 300 objects and establish a baseline of activity. It should go on sale in September. "...the BRS Labs technology will likely create a fair number of false positives, [the CEO] concedes. 'We think a three-to-one ratio of alerts to actual events is what the market will accept,' he says. 'We could be wrong.'"

America, what a country!

[frovingslosh]

As long as the cops don't beat too many people too extremely for false positive behavior I can't see where this could be a problem. And Homeland Security is already working on getting some Executive Orders written up that will make it a crime to act in ways that cause false positives, so there should be no false positives in the near future (by definition they will be real positives). Problem solved.

Re:oh yeah?

[Cassius Corodes]

Computers are already smart enough to talk to us. They just don't have anything interesting to say.

Why don't you try starting a conversation?

Re:There's an easy way to torpedo this...

[Anonymous Coward]

I'd love to see those videos on youtube, then.

"Abnormal Activity"

[Tablizer]

Abnormal activity? You mean like a slashdotter outside, in the sun, with a date?
         

Abnormally this:

[Fluffeh]

Machine: Uh oh, Jeremy stoped sticking his finger into his nose. I better call this one in!
Operator: Ummm... Why has it shown me Jeremy just sitting there?
Machine: Nope, there he goes again, digging away at his nose, everything back to normal. Better stop transmitting.
...
Machine: Whoa, he stopping barking for boogers again! Better show the boss!!
Operator: Why does this dumbass machine keep showing me Jeremy just sitting there for goodness sake...
Machine: Boss! Boss! Come on, look! DIFFERENT! ABNORMAL!
Operator: *Hmmm what's for lunch...*

Re:And for epic fail...

[ya really]

If I walk past a security camera in a full sized squirrel outfit, humans couldn't even figure that one out let alone a computer.

Imagine deploying this system at a furry convention.

I'd guess the cameras would most likely be programmed to identify the subject(s) as mentally disturbed, but most likely harmless.

Re:There's an easy way to torpedo this...

[Anonymous Coward]

I think you may have hit on this company's real business plan.

Re:oh yeah?

[rugatero]

Computers are already smart enough to talk to us.

Do computers worry you ?

They just don't have anything interesting to say.

I'm not sure I understand you fully.

Why don't you try starting a conversation?

Do you believe I don't try starting a conversation ?

Re:oh yeah?

[Hognoxious]

It looks like you're trying to start a converstion. Would you like to:

* Talk about sport.
* Talk about politics.
* Tell me how your day went.

Re:Doesn't need to be all that accurate

[Hognoxious]

So this will not only mean "search person X, because the computer tells us he is a thief". It will mean they keep searching till they find something.

I think your foil hat is too tight.

Re:"Abnormal Activity"

[lena_10326]

One must not let the slashdotter near bright light, especially sunlight, which can kill the slashdotter; one must not get water on the slashdotter; and, most importantly, one must never feed it after midnight.

Re:oh yeah?

[Spokehedz]

You forgot the last option:

* Shut up, and get me a beer.

Re:oh yeah?

[Dancindan84]

We wouldn't want you having an unsecured conversation:

You're trying to start a conversation with a computer.
Cancel or Allow?

Re:oh yeah?

[dintech]

Your computer is already confused about whether it's talking to a man or a woman. That's not going to help.

Re:oh yeah?

[Mister Whirly]

At least you can have a semi-normal conversation with a Windows machine. I started talking to a Mac and all it did was smugly name a bunch of indie bands it likes that I have never heard of, and then chastised all of the bands I like as "being to mainstream".