I was in a McDonald's in Pittsburgh over the weekend and noticed that, behind the counter over next to the drive-thru window was a television monitor showing the approach to the drive-thru lane and menuboard.
Cool, I thought. I guess that they can look at that and see if they're about to be busy with cars lining up.
Little did I realize that the camera and monitor are part of a much more complex order and traffic prediction system, as outlined in this MSNBC.com story that I came across today. Snippet:
Do you want fries with that? Never mind, we already know. A Pittsburgh startup, HyperActive Technologies Inc., is testing technology at area fast-food restaurants designed to give kitchen workers a good indication of what customers want before the hungry souls even get close enough to place an order.
Very cool stuff. Notice that the article didn't mention scanning license plates and cross-referencing with previous orders from that vehicle. Come on, you know they're doing it...
-aB
1 comment:
Gump,
Nice blog. Do you think that there are privacy issues at play here, or does this fit into the "no expectation of privacy on a street corner" philosophy of the Supreme Court?
I agree with your theory that McDonald's is tracking orders by license plates.
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