According to Wikipedia [1] [2], the 3D people counter with WiFi or Bluetooth (BLE) counting represents the fourth generation counter. WiFi counting provides additional metrics to businesses that may not be achievable with other technologies. The primary WiFi and Bluetooth counting metrics are:
- Outside Traffic : The number of passersby on the street outside the store.
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Visit Dwell : The average duration of visitors’ stay on the premises.
- Repeated Visitors : Identify visitors who had visited previously in the last 60 days.
How does it Work?
As most people carry a smartphone, each device periodically transmits its unique MAC code to search for potential WiFi hotspots. FootfallCam 3D Pro2 can collect all these publicly accessible WiFi or BLE beacons without requiring the smart devices to connect to it.
MAC Code Randomisation
As a response to privacy concerns, the latest versions of iOS and Android mobile operating systems have introduced MAC address randomisation – a necessary and vital function for enhancing the protection of personal data.
It’s important to note that the FootfallCam Pro2 device doesn’t track specific individual users. Instead, it aggregates MAC addresses into high-level metrics, providing businesses with insights into overall visitors’ behaviors on an hourly and daily basis.
Normalise WiFi data with people counting data
Not all visitors carry a smartphone or have WiFi or Bluetooth turned on. The key point is that the 3D Pro2 device also provides accurate people counting data from the 3D stereovision cameras. The 3D Pro2 people counter continuously learns the proportion of individuals passing under it, including those who do not have a phone or who have WiFi or Bluetooth turned off.
Using this as a benchmark, it provides an accurate count for WiFi and Bluetooth tracking. As a 3D people counter, the 3D Pro2 precisely counts individuals who walk under the pathway, offering a deterministic measure. This measure helps normalise statistical sampling estimates from WiFi and Bluetooth data. Normalisation serves as a benchmark for users to calibrate and apply offsets, aligning WiFi and Bluetooth measures with the ground truth.
Privacy
The FootfallCam 3D Pro2 device collects WiFi and BLE MAC addresses but does not upload them to our server. The unit aggregates raw MAC data into statistical metrics, ensuring no personally identifiable information is stored. Consequently, it complies with GDPR and other privacy standards. Additionally, end customers have the option to disable WiFi and BLE counting.
Unique Features of FootfallCam 3D Pro2
For the past six years, FootfallCam 3D Pro2 has been recognised as the sole people counter on the market offering the integrated functionalities of WiFi counting. WiFi and BLE counting yield supplementary metrics crucial for understanding visitor behaviours – features that align with the needs of most customers. This stands as a unique selling point for the FootfallCam 3D Pro2 people counting device. While other manufacturers may assert WiFi and BLE connectivity, it’s essential to request a demo to ensure they have the chipset and infrastructure to meet the requirements, as often, they lack these capabilities.
FAQs:
1. Can I disable the WiFi counting functionality in my 3D Pro2 device?
Yes, you can disable WiFi and BLE counting via the 3D Pro2 device settings page.
2.Some people carry more than one smart device, whilst others may carry none. How can we account for this?
Using the accurate people counting data from the stereovision cameras in the Pro2, it can normalise the WiFi and Bluetooth counting number to a very high level of accuracy.
3.Some of the WiFi routers and printers are also transmitting the MAC code; would they count as a visitor?
The MAC address indicates the manufacturer and type of device. The 3D Pro2 people counter automatically excludes stationary devices that are present day and night.
References:
- “People Counter”. by Wikipedia.
- “People Counter Counting Technology: WiFi Counting”. by Wikipedia.