Roku TVs could one day show ads as soon as you pause playing a game on a connected Xbox, or stop a stream on an Apple TV.

Roku is exploring ways to show consumers ads on its TVs even when they are not using its streaming platform: The company has been looking into injecting ads into the video feeds of third-party devices connected to its TVs, according to a recent patent filing.

This way, when an owner of a Roku TV takes a short break from playing a game on their Xbox, or streaming something on an Apple TV device connected to the TV set, Roku would use that break to show ads. Roku engineers have even explored ways to figure out what the consumer is doing with their TV-connected device in order to display relevant advertising.

  • RunningInRVA@lemmy.worldEnglish
    271·
    9 months ago

    Imagine being the guy working on this and how much you hate yourself anytime somebody asks you what you are working on.

    • jg1i@lemmy.worldEnglish
      482·
      9 months ago

      Unfortunately, I bet these guys don’t care. I used to work at a company you might have products from and I would constantly hear “Hey, we’re a business” as an excuse to degrade the user experience. :(

    • RageAgainstTheRich@lemmy.worldEnglish
      32·
      9 months ago

      I remember having an argument with my teacher in college about this. He asked us what we would do if we were asked to code something that could be used for things you personally don’t agree with such as the government using tools to “help” but also remove peoples privacy. Or corporations being able to show you more ads. I told him i would refuse. And he said that it would be my job though and sometimes you have to do things you don’t like. So i told him i would quit. And for some reason he could not really comprehend that and we got into an argument.

      • acr515@lemmy.worldEnglish
        20·
        9 months ago

        To be fair, most people I know don’t have the financial flexibility to quit their job if they’re asked by their boss to do something objectionable

    • datelmd5sum@lemmy.worldEnglish
      18·
      9 months ago

      We had to listen this C-level guy give a speech how good the last couple of years have been. We’ve increased the price of services by 50% and the amount of useless upsell shit we push to people has gone up as well. While our wages are still the same and people are getting laid off constantly. But I need food and shit.

      • jjjalljs@ttrpg.networkEnglish
        11·
        9 months ago

        I knew a guy who went to work for palantir. I asked "what if you end up working on like domestic spying or other sketchy stuff?’

        He was like, shrug, iunno. Guy did not give a shit about anyone outside his immediate friend and family group.

        • Kalysta@lemm.eeEnglish
          3·
          9 months ago

          And when it turns out the thing he made is used to hurt his friends?

          • jjjalljs@ttrpg.networkEnglish
            5·
            9 months ago

            I’m going to guess he values himself more than his friends, and he’d find justifications, but maybe he’d surprise me.

    • Hamartiogonic@sopuli.xyzEnglish
      1·
      8 months ago

      I recall watching a defcon speech given by someone who used to make malware. He opened the speech by apologizing and saying that he knows that he will burn in hell.