From the early pioneers of streaming audio to the recent expansion of facial recognition technology, RealNetworks has focused on software and services in its 27-year history. But the pandemic is pushing many companies to try new things, and the mainstay of software enters hardware for the first time.
RealNetworks’ New MaskCheck kioskIt debuted on Wednesday at an entry price of US$995, and is expected to quickly and reliably detect whether people passing by are wearing masks. The MaskCheck Kiosk is a little over 4 feet tall and weighs sturdy 27 pounds. It uses a pre-installed iPad 8 and includes a built-in battery in the base that can be charged when plugged in and lasts for up to three days.
The idea is to encourage and strengthen the correct use of masks, and ideally allow technology to avoid interactions that may become embarrassing or confrontational.
“We do not intend to make any political statements here,” RealNetworks CEO Rob Glaser said in a virtual demonstration of self-service terminals this week. “We just want to launch a product that we think will make the world a better place.”
The self-service terminal uses the free MaskCheck software launched by RealNetworks for iOS and Android in December. After that release, the company stated that it received comments from companies and organizations that they did not want to propose their own temporary methods to install or locate MaskCheck stations in stores, restaurants, schools, hospitals, offices, or other public places.
RealNetworks said that MaskCheck works in less than one second, with an accuracy rate of more than 90%, and provides visual and audio prompts to let passers-by know whether they are wearing masks correctly.
Glaser said that RealNetworks chose to locate the MaskCheck kiosk at a much lower price than the existing mask detection kiosks, which are priced at US$2,500 or more. He said that the company did not lose money on the product, but did not make much.
The normal price outside of the introductory promotion is $1,195.kiosk Can be purchased online Delivered in the U.S. and Canada.
MaskCheck software Still available for free. It is based on RealNetworks SAFR technology, Used for face recognition in other scenes. However, the company stated that the MaskCheck app does not use facial recognition or attempt to identify this person.
The venue can decide whether to use MaskCheck to passively collect mask wearing data; provide visual reminders about wearing masks correctly; or use the app to help enforce compliance and prevent people from entering specific spaces without wearing masks correctly.
RealNetworks is already on MaskCheck with COVID-19 International Research Team, An alliance of scientists coordinating COVID-19-related projects, including research to prove the effectiveness of masks in slowing the spread of the virus that causes the disease.
Features include a ring in the base that is used to lock the self-service terminal with a security cable. The company pointed out that if self-service terminals are no longer needed after the pandemic, the pre-installed iPad can be reused later.
Facial recognition and artificial intelligence are growth areas for RealNetworks, and SAFR’s revenue increased by 282% in the second quarter ended June 30. The company’s total revenue fell by 8% to $14.6 million In the second quarter, the net loss was US$1.4 million.
The established business line of RealNetworks is consumer media licensing and subscriptions, including video codec technology and its RealPlayer software; mobile operator services and technologies; and casual video games for mobile devices and computers.
But now that RealNetworks has tried the hardware, has the company considered other devices, perhaps in other parts of its business?
“Today, this is what we are going to announce,” Glaser said, with the light of entrepreneurs shining in his eyes. “We will see where it will go. Sometimes huge sequoias grow from small acorns, so you never know.”