People meter in my own words

A people meter is used to get data on what people are viewing. The people meter is a small thing the size of a paperback book. It records the age and sex of the person viewing the show in each household it is in and records what shows they watch at each time. If the people meter is turned on and the person doesnt put in their information the people meter box flashes to tell the person to input their information.

People Meter

A people meter is a tool used to measure the viewing habits of TV and Cable audiences.
The people meter is a "box", about the size of a paperback book. The box is hooked up to each television set and is accompanied by a remote control unit. Each family member in a sample household is assigned a personal "viewing button". It identifies each household members age and sex. If the TV is turned on and the viewer doesnt identify themselves, the meter flashes to remind them. Additional buttons on the People Meter enable guests to participate in the sample by recording their age, sex and viewing status into the system.