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Density.io

density.io

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Re: Density.io

#181

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And how do you feel about Google Analytics?

How do you feel about metaphors with obvious flaws?

I can't see any obvious flaws.

In fact, in order to make Density to GA comparison fair former needs to report all its tracking activity to a single source. Then they will be the same both in intent and implementation. Except, of course, for GA being free.

I asked original question assuming that you realize direct resemblance between Density and GA. But since you don't, I honestly don't understand how you cannot see it.

Re: Density.io

#184

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How do you feel about metaphors with obvious flaws?

I can't see any obvious flaws. In fact, in order to make Density to GA comparison fair former needs to report all its tracking activity to a single source. Then they will be the same both in intent and implementation. Except, of course, for GA being free. I asked original question assuming that you realize direct resemblance between Density and GA. But since you don't, I honestly don't understand how you cannot see i…

I can see the direct resemblance between tracking the two... What I really don't understand is how you can't see the difference between tracking someone's online activities that they engage in through a web browser and tracking someone's physical location.

Those are very different things and they mean very different things in people's lives.

Re: Density.io

#185

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I live in Houston and never knew how it worked. I assumed they only used the toll tags. It's actually not wifi, but rather bluetooth: http://traffic.houstontranstar.org/bluetooth/transtar_blueto... . I am not sure if the bluetooth radio on the phones uses a different MAC than the wifi radio.

The bluetooth address is actually just one character different from the phone's MAC address -- although this might just be an iPhone standard. Need to check up on Android standards and if it differs by manufacturer. What makes WiFi (currently) more relevant is more people leave it on. Likely to even out over time as more bluetooth devices are made commonplace.

There is no guarantee that the BT MAC address is related to the WiFi MAC address for a given device. These addresses may be assigned by the product (phone) manufacturer, they may also be assigned by who makes the BT or WiFi module.

Re: Density.io

#186
Placemeter offers a substantially similar product that works based on strategically placed small cameras and machine intelligence. It recognizes individuals coming in and out of a retail location based on what they look like. Pretty cool technology and the founders were part of my Techstars class.

http://placemeter.com

Re: Density.io

#187
post #168

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Definitely understand your concerns. In the system you're an anonymous datapoint. The information can't be used to determine who a specific individual is.

Will you provide real-time stats? Could I see that user A523498BD5352F is currently in my store, and what other stores they frequent? If it's only aggregated data after the fact, that alleviates some of the concerns.

They don't do that

Re: Density.io

#188
post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your devices broadcast the names of networks it has seen recently in frequent intervals. "Yo HomeWiFI you there" essentially. Anybody listening can then correlate them with Googles database to find out detailed information about the user. Usually people have a huge list of connected networks which will be announced and give huge information about the user. "MIT" SSID? Probably a student then.

Phones don't simply broadcast a complete list of networks they remember.

yes they do.

http://conferences.sigcomm.org/imc/2013/papers/imc148-barber...

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