Amazon Web Service has launched a new service called AWS Panorama in Preview mode this week. It’s a machine learning appliance that adds computer vision to on-premise cameras. In other words, it adds machine intelligence to otherwise dumb camera systems.
Amazon views Panorama as a way of removing the need for human inspection or monitoring in key areas of business. The example Amazon gives is using Panorama to “evaluate manufacturing quality, identify bottlenecks in industrial processes, and monitor workplace safety and security.” And even though this is a service offered by Amazon’s cloud business, it doesn’t require the internet to function.
The key selling point of Panorama is the ability to automate many more tasks, but as the BBC points out, it can be used to monitor people as well as goods. Track customer behavior, monitor how employees perform and whether they are following safety procedures, such as wearing a face mask, and even detect when something unexpected occurs, e.g. an unknown vehicle enters a facility. These are all positives for business owners, but Panorama is sure to raise concerns about privacy in the workplace.
Amazon is also making an AWS Panorama Device SDK available to manufacturers, which means we’ll see new equipment appearing that takes full advantage of the service. Expect smart cameras with Panorama functionality available out-the-box to appear next year. Adlink Technology, Axis Communications, Basler AG, Stanley Security, and Vivotek are already working on Panorama devices.
