the biggest consumer data companies in the world--google

 Google is not only the biggest search engine in the world. It is one of the biggest advertising companies. What's more, it is becoming one of the biggest consumer data companies in the world.
 Google announced its new research project on people's media behavior, named Screenwise, in this February. This research project is designed to collect data on more than just Internet behavior. In addition to custom wireless routers that gather information on participants' browsing and downloading habits, Google mailed Screenwise TV Tab to the research participates in order to enable the study to identify which TV programs are being viewed."


The information TV Tab collects includes:

• Identity of person logging into the Screenwise TV Tab

• Timestamps indicating time of log-in and log-out

• The total amount of time a television is used in the household

Google is offering its research participated a sign-up incentive of $100 with up to an additional $50 for each month. I am wondering what its panels distribution looks like? Most are housewives with more free time and easily incentivized by reward.

source:

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2012/02/google-paying-users-to-track-100-of-their-web-usage-via-little-black-box/