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Get your coat — we’re going out. But where shall we go? SceneTap is a new app that uses cameras in pubs and clubs to check out a venue before you even turn up, right down to the number of boys and girls in the place.
SceneTap relies on cameras installed at the door of each bar. The cameras count the number of people coming in and their gender. SceneTap’s software also guesses the rough age of each customer, so it can tell users the age range of punters in the bar at the time. Say whaaaat?
SceneTap pulls off this feat by comparing each incoming punter’s face to an existing database containing faces of people of different ages. It then takes a stab at the person’s vintage.
When you log in to the app, you’ll be able to see the stats for bars and chat to other SceneTappers already propping up the bar in each establishment. You can contact the bar staff and bag discounts and deals.
The cameras mean everybody is checked in automatically, so it’s a more complete picture of a bar’s crowd than optional services such as Facebook Places and Foursquare. The venues themselves get detailed analytics about their clientele, as well as location-based social marketing promoting them to app users.
SceneTap pours its first drink next month, with cameras in around 50 bars in Chicago.
It’s so crazy it just might work. But why stop with cameras? Let’s throw in some extra features to make the perfect bar app: add cameras trained on the bar staff to map how surly they are, timers to see how long you’ll have to wait for a drink, and microphones to identify the music played. And augmented reality traffic lights to show exactly how single revellers are. So, do you come here often?
What features would you like to see in an app for planning your night out? And apart from a pool-playing robot, what would be in your ultimate gadget pub? Raise a glass in the comments or on our Facebook page. Cheers!