Racist HP Computers Lampooned By Store Employees
Evidently HP computers are racist, if you follow the rationale of this snarkily produced video. It shows how HP's webcam software, which is supposed to track the movements of a person's face, doesn't work too well if you're African American.
Desi (African-American) and Wanda (Caucasian) appear to be workers in some sort of consumer electronics store.
Desi (African-American) and Wanda (Caucasian) appear to be workers in some sort of consumer electronics store.
We're using the face-tracking software. So, it's supposed to follow me as I move. I'm black. I think my blackness is interfering with the computer's ability to follow me. [...]It's pretty clear that the software seems to think Desi is invisible. At least Desi and Wanda seem to have a good sense of humor about the issue.
I'm going on record, and I'm sayin' it. Hewlett-Packard computers are racist. I said it. And the worst part is, I bought one for Christmas.
Some might wonder if this is a stunt. Or at least, those who remember the "Racial Sensitivity" episode from "Better Off Ted's" first season might. "Better Off Ted" is a comedy that lampoons corporate life, and stars Jay Harrington as Ted Crisp, Portia de Rossi as the evilly corporated lackey (and Ted's boss) Veronica Palmer, and Andrea Anders as goofy (and crushing on Ted) Linda Zwordling.
In that episode, Veridian Dynamics, their company, "installs new motion-sensor devices for lights and other uses that are unable to recognize black people." Thus, employees are locked into rooms, elevators, etc.
In reality, this seems to not be a joke, but rather, just a bug, albeit a hilarious one. HP believes its software is having "difficulty 'seeing' contrast in conditions where there is insufficient foreground lighting. At any rate, watch the video:
In that episode, Veridian Dynamics, their company, "installs new motion-sensor devices for lights and other uses that are unable to recognize black people." Thus, employees are locked into rooms, elevators, etc.
In reality, this seems to not be a joke, but rather, just a bug, albeit a hilarious one. HP believes its software is having "difficulty 'seeing' contrast in conditions where there is insufficient foreground lighting. At any rate, watch the video:
