Show HN: PhilzScore – Real-time people count at Philz Coffee | Hacker News Reader

Show HN: PhilzScore – Real-time people count at Philz Coffee

philzscore.com

28 pointsbredfield14 comments

Cool! If you end up doing the new 9th Street Berkeley location, consider another count next door at Donut Dolly to see how many donuts are still available.

You got it. Consider it formally on the list. Friendly with any of the staff over there?

No, although I've chatted with Dolly herself the few times I've been in. Oh, you mean Philz ... also no. Really nice space, though.

Dolly, I meant.

If only DonutScore.com weren't taken ...

This is awesome. Love the simple execution of the door/proximity sensor.

How do you get accurate head counts?

Corporate answer: big, hairy proprietary algorithms. Startup answer: straight magic, yo. Real answer: manual for this week. We're doing a couple things that don't scale to validate a concept.

For accurate, autonomous counting, we use this little guy -- https://s3.amazonaws.com/screenshots.angel.co/73/340163/7982...

We're gunning for city-wide, real-time movement.

What is that "little guy" called?

he has a couple names: "little guy; wall•e (unofficial); density nano"

but what he's made of is two infrared distance sensors. measures ingress and egress.

Total occupancy but larger spaces can be segmented however they might want (order line, dining, bathrooms, bar area, etc.) Just need to separate two sections with a sensor.

1 sensor... ingress = movement into one area out of an adjacent area. Simultaneously, that counts as an egress (that person having moved out of that adjacent area into the next).

Really cool. Signed up to hear more.

Is the count for total occupancy or patrons in line? (I haven't been in that location so I don't know the layout).

cant wait for this info on all hot spots!

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