I don't know about you, but I've been in lockdown so long I've almost forgotten what normal life was like.
I know I used to go to bars, concerts, and sporting events. And I know it was fun. The thought of being in a crowd didn't always give me chills.
But then there was something else wasn't there?
I'd almost forgotten until I saw this unfortunate story a few days ago...
Ah, yes.
I'd gotten so wrapped up in the nostalgia for the bygone days of group hangs I'd forgotten the latent fear that some psycho could indiscriminately open fire at any given moment.
Sure don't miss that.
Nevertheless I don't want to dwell on the tragedy of it all. It's too sad, too bleak.
I'd much rather talk about solutions.
Namely, a company that's out there making the world safer from lunatic shooters and even from the coronavirus.
It may not be a pleasant discussion, but it's an important one.
You see, a few years ago I caught on to a really interesting company - one that makes facial recognition software, like the kind you might use to unlock your phone.
However, the twist is that the software is hidden away in digital ads - marquees, kiosks, and billboards that display ads on their screens.
That alone would be an intriguing business model. After all, the digital ad market is still nascent, at less than $1 billion currently. But it's forecast to grow to more than $32 billion by 2025.
But what's really unique, interesting, and comforting about this particular facial recognition software is that it can identify security threats, too.
It doesn't just put advertising into the environment; it scans the environment for potential threats.
That could include known terrorists or at-large criminals whose mug shots can be found in a database. And if it recognizes those individuals it can immediately alert the authorities.
But that's not all.
It can detect weapons, too.