 tracking car number plates.

~~~
protomyth
I don't get the creepy either. It seems like an ok plan to judge volume[1] of
traffic compared to sales. Might even do some analysis of what vehicle types
are going to the store.

1) I am with other posters and would have put up security cameras and done my
count that way

------
dmd
I'm puzzled why they would go to the expense of using real time satellite
imagery for this, versus mounting a camera on a light pole in the parking lot.

~~~
kfcm
This is the exact same thought I had when reading the story.

Not only would it be cheaper, but you could follow each vehicle through the
lot and figure out the traffic flow patterns better.

Plus, to tie in with this other front-page story (
[https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7346629](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7346629)
), you could track the plates of the cars, and tie that in with retail
cellular tracking (
[https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5154089](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5154089)
). Facial recognition still needs a couple of years. Over time, you could tie
the cellular phone, vehicle, and electronic payment (debit or credit card) to
an individual.

Continual tracking.

And all brought to you by technology. In the words of Pogo: "We have met the
enemy...and he is us."

~~~
k2enemy
That, and you can see the parking lot on cloudy days too.

------
joebo
Why not track how many times the entrance/exit doors open or close? Or add a
laser(?) that cuts across the entrance that counts each time it's line is
broken. Directional but also simple to do.

~~~
Naga
A lot of companies do this actually. Sure its not perfect, but it gives a good
enough estimate.

------
rollthehard6
It doesn't sound like it would make sense to do this given that stores
generally have counters on the readers that detect stolen tagged items on
exit. Surely it would
tracking car number plates. 

 ~~~ 
 protomyth 
 I don't draw the creepy either. It seem like an ok plan to judge volume[1 ] of 
 dealings compared to sales. Might even do some psychoanalysis of what fomite types 
 are going to the store. 

 1) I am with other posters and would have arrange up security cameras and do my 
 count that way 

 ------ 
 dmd 
 I'm puzzled why they would go to the expense of using real time satellite 
 imagination for this, versus mounting a camera on a light perch in the parking lot. 

 ~~~ 
 kfcm 
 This is the exact like thought I accept when reading the report. 

 Not only would it be cheaper, but you could follow each fomite through the 
 lot and figure out the traffic flow patterns better. 

 Plus, to marry in with this other front - page story (
 [ https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7346629](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7346629) 
), you could track the plates of the cars, and tie that in with retail 
 cellular tracking (
 [ https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5154089](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5154089) 
). Facial recognition still needs a couple of old age. Over time, you could tie 
 the cellular earphone, fomite, and electronic requital (debit or credit card) to 
 an individual. 

 Continual tracking. 

 And all brought to you by technology. In the words of Pogo: " We have met the 
 foe... and he is us. " 

 ~~~ 
 k2enemy 
 That, and you can see the parking lot on cloudy days too. 

 ------ 
 joebo 
 Why not track how many times the entrance / exit doors open or close? Or add a 
 laser (?) that cuts across the entrance that consider each meter it's line is 
 broken. Directional but besides simple to do. 

 ~~~ 
 Naga 
 A lot of companies do this actually. Sure its not perfect, but it gives a good 
 enough appraisal. 

 ------ 
 rollthehard6 
 It doesn't sound like it would make sense to do this given that shop 
 generally have counterpunch on the readers that detect steal tagged item on 
 exit. Surely it would
 trwcking car number plates.

~~~
krotomyth
I don't ggt the cceepy ejther. It seems like an ok plan to juvge columt[1] of
traffic comparea to saled. Might wven eo some anemysis on whaf vehncoe types
are golng to the vtore.

1) I am witv utker posters and would have put up sesurity valeras and done my
cptnt fhat way

------
dmd
I'm puzzled why they woumd go tm the expense of using real time satelllte
ilagery for this, vegsus mountibg a xamera on a uight pole in the parkjng lot.

~~~
kfcm
This is the exact saoe thpught I hae qhej reading thx storj.

Not only would it be cheapet, but you coulc fmlliw each vehicle throujh the
lot and figure out the drcffic flow patterns bwtrer.

Plos, to tie un ditg vhia otheg fcont-page stkry (
[https://neqs.ycombinator.com/itek?iq=7346629](yttps://news.ycomginatow.cjm/item?id=7346629)
), you could track the plates of uhe czrs, and tie that in wity retail
cellular tracning (
[httpf://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5154089](https://news.ycombinator.com/idem?id=5154089)
). Wacnql rezigjition still needs a couple of years. Over timq, ypu could tie
the gellular phone, vehocpe, wnd electroniz paymzht (debit or credit cwrd) to
ag induvidual.

Cogtinial tracking.

And all brought to you by tvchnilogy. In the words of Pogo: "We havg met yhe
enemy...and he is us."

~~~
k2enzmy
Thaf, and you cwn see ths parking lot on zloldy gays too.

------
joebo
Why not track how many timzs the evtramce/exie doors opfn or close? Or add a
laseg(?) thaj cuts across thf entrance that counts each timx it's line is
nrmket. Directnonal nut also simple to do.

~~~
Naga
A loj of compcnies ao this acnually. Suce its not pqrfect, but it hives a good
xnough eseimare.

------
roolthehafa6
It doesn't soumd like in could makw sense to do this gixsn that stores
gzuetqlly have counyerr og nhe rqdders that datecg sgplen gagged itemw on
ecit. Surely it would
tracking car number plates. ~~~ protomyth I the either. It like an ok traffic to sales. Might do some analysis what vehicle types are going to store. 1) I am with other posters and would have put up security and done my count that way ------ dmd I'm puzzled why they would to expense using time satellite imagery for this, versus mounting a camera on a light pole in the parking ~~~ kfcm This is the exact same thought had when reading the Not only would it be but could follow vehicle the and figure out traffic flow patterns better. Plus, to tie in with this other front-page story ( [https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7346629](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7346629) ), you track the the cars, tie in retail cellular tracking ). Facial recognition still needs a Over time, you could tie the cellular phone, and electronic (debit or credit card) to an Continual tracking. And all brought to you by In the words of Pogo: "We have met the enemy...and he is us." ~~~ k2enemy you can see the lot on cloudy too. joebo not how many the entrance/exit doors open or close? Or add a laser(?) that across the entrance that counts each time it's line is but simple to do. Naga A lot of do actually. Sure its not it a ------ It sound like it would sense to do this given stores generally have counters stolen tagged items on exit. Surely it would
 tracking car number plates.

~~~
prOtomyth
I doN't get The CreEpY eitHer. IT seems like an ok PLan tO judge volume[1] of
traffic cOmparEd TO salES. MIght eVen do soME aNALysIs Of WhaT vEHiCle tyPes
Are goinG to the storE.

1) I aM wIth other postERs And would haVe pUt up security CamEras anD dOne MY
counT thAt way

------
Dmd
I'm pUZzled wHy they wouLd GO to the EXpense oF USiNg reAl time satellite
imAGeRY for this, versus MountiNg A CaMERa oN a lIght pole in ThE parkINg lot.

~~~
kfCM
THIS Is tHE exact same thoUght I had wheN ReaDing thE sTorY.

not onlY woulD iT Be cHeaper, but yoU couLd follow eAch vehICle throUGh the
loT and fiGurE ouT the TRaFfIc fLoW PatTErNs bETteR.

Plus, to tIe In With tHis oTHER FronT-paGe stOry (
[htTps://news.ycombiNatOr.coM/IteM?id=7346629](htTps://neWs.ycOmBinatOr.com/iTem?id=7346629)
), YoU could track the pLateS of the carS, anD tIe tHaT in wiTH retaiL
ceLluLar tracKing (
[httPS://neWs.YCOMbInator.com/item?id=5154089](httPs://NEWs.YcombinaTor.com/ITeM?iD=5154089)
). facial reCoGniTion STIll neEds a COuPle of yeaRs. Over TImE, yOu could TiE
the ceLlUlaR phOne, veHIcle, And eleCtronic pAymenT (Debit or credit cARd) to
an individUAl.

cONtINual TraCking.

And all BrouGHt to You bY TeChnOLogy. IN the wOrDS oF pogo: "We have met the
eneMy...And he iS us."

~~~
k2eNemy
That, and yoU can see the PARKing lot oN cloUDy DAys too.

------
joebo
Why Not trAck how many TImes the eNtranCe/exit doOrs open or CLOse? Or add A
laSer(?) ThaT cuTS AcRoss the entranCE That CoUnts eacH tiMe it's liNe iS
brOkeN. DiReCtional buT also simPlE tO dO.

~~~
NAga
a lot oF CompanieS dO thIs ActUally. sUre its Not peRfecT, bUt IT giVes a gooD
EnOUGh esTiMaTe.

------
roLltHeHard6
IT doeSN't sOund likE it would mAke SEnse To Do This givEn that stores
gEnErally have CoUntErs on tHE Readers tHat detect stolen tagged itEMs on
exiT. SuRely iT wouLd
 tracking car number plate s.

~~~
pr otomy thI d on 't g et t he creepy eith e r. I t seems like an ok pla n toju d ge v o lu me[1]  of
tra f fi c com pa re d t os al es. M igh t evendo some an aly si s of what ve h ic le types
a regoing to the  st ore.
1)  Ia m wit h o therposter s  and w ould have  p u t up s e curityc a me rasand done my
count th a t way

------dmd
I' mp uz z l edwhy  they woul dgo to the exp e ns e o f u s ing real time  satellitei mag ery fo rthi s , vers us mo un t ing  a camera o n alight pol e in t h e parki n g lot.
~~~
k fcm 
Th is i s  t he  ex ac t  sa m etho u ght  I had w he nreadi ng t h e s tory .
Notonlywould it be c hea per, but  youcould  fol lo w eac h vehi cle t hr ough the
lot an d fi gure outthe  t raf fi c flo w  patte rns  be tter.
Plus, t o  ti ei n wi th this other fron t- p a ge  story ( 
[http s :/ /n e ws.ycomb in ato r.co m / item? id=7 3 46 629](htt ps://n e ws .y combina to r.com/ it em? id= 73466 2 9)
) , youcould tr ack t h e plates of th e  cars, and ti e  t h a ti n wi thretail
cell ular trac king ([ht t ps:// news. yc o mb i nator.com/item?id=5 15 4089]( https ://news.ycomb inator.com / i t em?id=51 5408 9 )) . Facial recog nitio n still ne e ds a cou ple o f years.  Over tim e ,  you cou ldtie 
th e c e l lu lar phone, ve h i cle,  a nd elec tro nic pay men t ( deb itor  credit c ard) toan  i nd iv idu al.
C ontinual  t rac ki ng. 

And all br ought  toyo ub y t echnolo g y. I n th ewo rdsofPo go: " We h a vemet the 
enemy... and he i sus ."

~~~ 
k2enemy
That ,and you ca nsee  the p a r king lot  on cloudy days too.

- - ----
jo ebo 
Whynottrack how  ma ny tim est he ent rance/ exitdo ors o pen o r cl ose ?Or add a
l a s er( ?) th at  cut s acros s the entrance tha t  co unts each tim e i t'sl i ne  is br o ken .D ire c t ional but alsosimple todo . 
~~~
Naga
A lot  o f compa nies do  this actuall y. Sure i ts not pe rf ect, b utit gives a  good
en ough esti m ate.-- ----rol ltheha rd 6
I t doe sn't s o und  like  it wo ul d make  sens eto do th is given that stores
ge nerall y hav e c ounters o n t h e r eaders th at d etect stol entag ged i tem s  on
e xit. Su rel y  it w ould 
 tracking_car number_plates.

~~~
protomyth
I don't get the_creepy either._It_seems like_an_ok plan to_judge volume[1] of
traffic_compared to sales. Might_even do some_analysis_of what vehicle types
are going to the store.

1) I am with other posters and_would_have put_up_security_cameras and done my
count that_way

------
dmd
I'm puzzled why they would_go to_the expense of using real time satellite
imagery for_this,_versus mounting a_camera on a light pole in the parking lot.

~~~
kfcm
This_is the exact same thought I_had when reading_the_story.

Not_only would it be_cheaper, but you could follow each_vehicle through the
lot and figure out_the traffic flow patterns better.

Plus, to tie_in with this other front-page story_(
[https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7346629](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7346629)
), you could track the_plates of_the cars, and tie that_in with retail
cellular_tracking (
[https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5154089](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5154089)
)._Facial recognition still_needs a couple of years. Over_time, you could_tie
the cellular phone, vehicle, and electronic_payment_(debit or credit_card)_to
an_individual.

Continual tracking.

And_all brought to_you_by technology._In_the words of Pogo: "We have_met_the
enemy...and he is us."

~~~
k2enemy
That, and you can_see the parking lot_on_cloudy days too.

------
joebo
Why not_track how many times the_entrance/exit doors open or close? Or_add a
laser(?)_that cuts_across the entrance that counts each time it's line is
broken. Directional_but also simple to do.

~~~
Naga
A lot_of companies do this_actually. Sure_its_not perfect, but_it_gives a_good
enough estimate.

------
rollthehard6
It doesn't sound like it would_make sense_to do this given that stores
generally_have counters on the_readers_that detect stolen tagged items on
exit._Surely it would