Direct Retailers Had Jolliest 2012 Holiday Season

It was a jolly holiday season last year for direct retailers, meaning those who sell directly to consumers via the web, catalogs and TV infomercials. Non-store retailers racked up an 11.3% sales gain for November and December 2012 over the same months of the prior year, according to U.S. Commerce Department figures. By comparison, total retail sales (excluding automotive) tallied a more modest 4.1% increase over the prior year, and retail stores garnered just 3.2% more in sales. One drag on retailers' holiday cheer was anemic spending for electronics. Total electronics sales, not adjusted for seasonal differences, decreased nearly 0.3% in December 2012 compared to December 2011, per Commerce Department statistics. For more, see the Internet Retailer story at http://www.internetretailer.com/2013/01/15/direct-retailers-lead-way-holiday-sales

'Big Brother' Redux? Now TVs May Watch Viewers

In future, while you are watching your television set, it may be busy watching you -- capturing conversations and moods from its surroundings and then delivering customized ads. Verizon has filed a patent application for targeting ads to TV viewers based on information collected from TVs equipped with infrared cameras, microphones and other devices that detect viewers' conversational keywords, moods and activities, well as information about objects and even animals near the TV. For example, if the TV sensors detect that a couple is arguing in the "Verizon Detection Zone," the system could send an ad for marriage counseling to the TV or a mobile phone in the room. If the system detects that the viewer is playing with a dog, a dog food commerical could be transmitted, and so on. It will be interesting to hear the privacy arguments generated by this proposed data-gathering! For more on the story, go to http://broadcastengineering.com/company-news/verizon-patents-targeted-advertising-watches-tv-viewers