Tech That Listens To Your Conversations Promises Targeted Tv Ads And Discounts

New technology is being developed that will deliver targeted adverts and discounts based on conversations ‘heard’ by televisions.

New technology is being developed by affiliate marketing specialists Markco Media, the parent company of discount website www.MyVoucherCodes.co.uk, promising that adverts and retailer discounts will be intelligently delivered dependent on key words used within the vicinity of the television.

During initial testing, consumers have proven more likely to act upon the advert, by either purchasing or visiting the brand’s website or social media profiles, if it relates to their conversation.

The technology has been in development for more than three years and will be available to manufacturers before the end of 2012. More than £1m has been invested into the development of the concept, which was first conceived when founder Mark Pearson had a conversation in his living room he says was ‘scarily’ followed by an advert from a well-known pizza chain.

The product, named ‘Hearscreen’, promises to provide brands with a way to ensure households potentially interested in their product or service will see their advertisements. Brands will also be able to deliver unique trackable discount codes, MyVoucherCodes’ core product, using the technology.

Hearscreen uses Audio Based Display Deployment technology and is due to end beta testing across selected families in the South East at the end of April, after which Hearscreen will be made available to a small testing of interested television manufacturers that have already signed up to use it in product development.

Hearscreen works by analysing words and phrases used within 10m of the television set and, if these phrases and keywords have been highlighted by advertisers as being important to their campaign, can ensure the advert or discount is queued to appear as soon as possible between programmes.

The entire process, between the words being spoken, to them being analysed and delivering a relevant advert or discount can happen in less than 20 seconds, meaning targeted commercials can be conveyed within the same advertising break.

Hearscreen works even if the television is on stand-by.

Mark Pearson, founder of MyVoucherCodes.co.uk had the following to say,

“Television advertising remains incredibly influential, but the shift towards catch-up and recorded TV means advertisers have less opportunity to put their products and services in front of potential customers. Hearscreen provides brands with the opportunity to make the most out of the increasingly short periods of time they have in front of consumers.

I was sat in my living room when I happened upon the idea of Hearscreen. I had just mentioned how hungry I was, when scarily, an advert for a well-known pizza restaurant chain came on. I proceeded to order from them and realised that targeted adverts could be both useful to brands and consumers. Since then, we’ve been working on the technology to make the concept a reality, and having invested more than £1m into making it a reality, I’m pleased to announce that it will be available to television manufacturers by the end of quarter four, this year.

ENDS

For more information, please visit www.hearscreen.co.uk.