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I wonder if Singapore Airlines has something new to say about the cameras in their IFE system? https://twitter.com/vkamluk/status/1097008518685573120 https://t

I wonder if Singapore Airlines has something new to say about the cameras in their IFE system? https://twitter.com/vkamluk/status/1097008518685573120 https://twitter.com/vkamluk/status/1097008518685573120

craftyguy 8y ago
Of all places to 'spy' on folks, on a cramped airplane seems like the worst. Most people will be 1) asleep, 2) pissed off, 3) eating shitty food, 4) watching bad movies. It's likely that they decided to shove in some cheap android tablets that someone else sold them. It's unlikely that they are actively watching everyone, though the possibility of them switching on the camera to watch/record you shifting in your seat to get away from your neighbor trying to use your shoulder as a pillow is always there.
- fyfy18 8y ago
  For security a lot of (most?) new aircraft have Cabin Video Monitoring Systems (CVMS). Depending on where you are seated they may be able to see everything you do or just your head. An aircraft shouldn't be considered a private place, as you are probably already being watched. In 2008 a study was carried out that attempted to use facial recognition to identify passengers for signs of terrorist activity [0], so maybe they are used for that. On the other hand, as you say it was probably just cheaper to use an off the shell Android tablet that has a built in camera... [0] https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn14013-in-flight-surveillance-could-foil-terrorists-in-the-sky/ https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn14013-in-flight-surve...
  - wpearse 8y ago
    Noticed these on an Emirates A380 recently. Cameras in the ceiling at the front of each seating section.
- kalleboo 8y ago
  I used to go to a gym where the exercise machines all had Windows tablets built in. They all had a camera and Skype installed. I'm still curious who ever wants to Skype all sweaty during an exercise, but probably the same person who wants to Skype on an airplane.
  - zimpenfish 8y ago
    > who ever wants to Skype all sweaty during an exercise I should imagine there's a non-zero number of fetishists who would pay $ for a live Skype call and/or webcam show with an exerciser.
  - userbinator 8y ago
    I'm still curious who ever wants to Skype all sweaty during an exercise Maybe a variation of this old meme might help explain: "The great thing about going to the gym isn't exercising, it's showing everyone online that you did."
- wpearse 8y ago
  At some point someone at SIA would have thought about covering up the cameras (surely?), I imagine it would have been: 1. Accept the OEM design (cameras uncovered) but possibly have to deal with people not liking a camera shoved in their face (camera active or inactive) 2. Modify the OEM design (cover the camera, costing money) and nobody even knows that there was a camera there in the first place So I'm curious as to why they chose #1. A pure cost-saving exercise? Reserving use of the cameras at a later time? Didn't have the option of modifying the design? Didn't think people would mind the thought of being filmed?
jakeogh 8y ago
OT meta execute-our-code-or-else: "We've detected that JavaScript is disabled in your browser. Would you like to proceed to legacy Twitter?" [Yes] rhetorically... Why?
- justtopost 8y ago
  'Friendly' friction. At least its not the abhorrent red it.

craftyguy 8y ago

Of all places to 'spy' on folks, on a cramped airplane seems like the worst. Most people will be 1) asleep, 2) pissed off, 3) eating shitty food, 4) watching bad movies. It's likely that they decided to shove in some cheap android tablets that someone else sold them. It's unlikely that they are actively watching everyone, though the possibility of them switching on the camera to watch/record you shifting in your seat to get away from your neighbor trying to use your shoulder as a pillow is always there.

fyfy18 8y ago
For security a lot of (most?) new aircraft have Cabin Video Monitoring Systems (CVMS). Depending on where you are seated they may be able to see everything you do or just your head. An aircraft shouldn't be considered a private place, as you are probably already being watched. In 2008 a study was carried out that attempted to use facial recognition to identify passengers for signs of terrorist activity [0], so maybe they are used for that. On the other hand, as you say it was probably just cheaper to use an off the shell Android tablet that has a built in camera... [0] https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn14013-in-flight-surveillance-could-foil-terrorists-in-the-sky/ https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn14013-in-flight-surve...
- wpearse 8y ago
  Noticed these on an Emirates A380 recently. Cameras in the ceiling at the front of each seating section.
kalleboo 8y ago
I used to go to a gym where the exercise machines all had Windows tablets built in. They all had a camera and Skype installed. I'm still curious who ever wants to Skype all sweaty during an exercise, but probably the same person who wants to Skype on an airplane.
- zimpenfish 8y ago
  > who ever wants to Skype all sweaty during an exercise I should imagine there's a non-zero number of fetishists who would pay $ for a live Skype call and/or webcam show with an exerciser.
- userbinator 8y ago
  I'm still curious who ever wants to Skype all sweaty during an exercise Maybe a variation of this old meme might help explain: "The great thing about going to the gym isn't exercising, it's showing everyone online that you did."
wpearse 8y ago
At some point someone at SIA would have thought about covering up the cameras (surely?), I imagine it would have been: 1. Accept the OEM design (cameras uncovered) but possibly have to deal with people not liking a camera shoved in their face (camera active or inactive) 2. Modify the OEM design (cover the camera, costing money) and nobody even knows that there was a camera there in the first place So I'm curious as to why they chose #1. A pure cost-saving exercise? Reserving use of the cameras at a later time? Didn't have the option of modifying the design? Didn't think people would mind the thought of being filmed?

jakeogh 8y ago

OT meta execute-our-code-or-else: "We've detected that JavaScript is disabled in your browser. Would you like to proceed to legacy Twitter?" [Yes] rhetorically... Why?

justtopost 8y ago
'Friendly' friction. At least its not the abhorrent red it.