In a technology-driven era, measuring and interpreting audience behavior is a basic requirement for businesses, especially in the realm of media. Finding a precise, reliable method to do so, however, has been a challenge. But a recent patent application US20230336814A1 titled "CROSS-MEDIA MEASUREMENT DEVICE AND METHOD" from Hyphametrics could be a game changer.
In the past, understanding what people were watching was cumbersome and unreliable. Ranging from tedious physical logs recorded by viewers, dubbed "diaries", to slightly more sophisticated 'inaudible watermarks' embedded in content, the methods were fraught with issues. People often forgot to log data, couldn't remember what they watched, or failed to wear their assigned devices. Further, with the explosion of diverse content on numerous sources beyond traditional broadcast, shortcomings of these systems became painfully obvious.
Add to that the complications of audio-based content recognition (ACR) systems, which, while improved over diaries, still had drawbacks. ACR systems couldn't handle certain non-broadcast media like gaming or over-the-top (OTT) content and required user registration which often didn't happen.
The recently filed patent from Hyphametrics promises to revolutionize these measurement systems by providing a more streamlined and accurate way to map viewing habits. Using advanced machine learning, their device, dubbed the Hyphametrics 'Coremeter', can assess what's happening on a screen with more precision and less user dependency than previous systems. It uses a unique set of rules for different types of content, fostering a more robust understanding of viewer behavior.
A world endowed with this kind of patent technology will make personalized content delivery more precise. Advertisers, for instance, can cater ads to an individual's viewing preferences accurately, enhancing people's viewing experience while maximizing advertising and marketing efforts.
Households would no longer have to endure irrelevant advertisements but can expect ads tailored to their specific tastes. The impact would reach beyond advertising to subscription services and content creators who could use this data to serve audiences with precision and insight.
Despite these impressive potential benefits, it's crucial to note that a patent application doesn't guarantee a working product on the market. There's a long path from patent to product. So while this technology looks promising, it will be interesting to watch if, and when, it will be realized in our daily lives.