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More on Talking Shopping Carts
ThosLives writes "CNN.com is reporting a story about Talking Shopping Carts. (I rue the day when viruses attack these carts, telling everyone to go buy Brand X). This article also has some interesting comments about possible (and likely inevitable) uses of RFID. I wonder, in the future, will I be able to buy anything with our new funny colored cash dollars?" We've mentioned these before.
I'd really like to be able to download the information myself. Maybe they could add a MMC slot to the cart (or USB drive, smart card, etc.). I don't think it would be that hard, heck, they could probally do it now at the cash registers. Load that info into a program at home (maybe even a custom program for the chain) and there you got your shopping list. On a simular note, they could have the information tie into a website which you could create a "usual" list, plus a couple of items that were featured on the website.
As I see it the real problem with the carts is the expense to wire (and upkeep) for each cart (besides, those thing get trashed quickly).
The grass is only greener, if you don't take care of your own lawn.
The only real use I can see is if it can tell me, accurately, where the hell the Golden Ghrams are. In-cart navigation!
Honestly though, the things would be so expensive (And prone to be stolen for parts), I doubt they'll ever really show up.
~D
This sig has been enciphered with a one-time pad. It could say almost anything.
Despite the traditional concerns about privacy, I do kind of like the idea of target marketing. If companies are going to advertise to me, I would rather it be products I might actually buy than stuff I wouldn't. But all the opportunities seem to aimed at products I don't want. Amazon knows I buy mostly electronics from them, but I get a gold box full of kids toys and $100 pots. Credit card companies supposedly know my credit history, but all I get is secured cards aimed at people with no credit, or Amex Gold cards for buisness owners. Send me an application for a rewards card with no annual fee, and I might go for it.
Same with this talking cart. If it really usues the info for telling me about products I might like, or that are a good deal, I might like it. If it just tells me that products I would never buy are on sale, then forget it.
I have blog like everyone else
That rfid in currency will be a pain. ATMs will start recording rfids in dispensed cash, and banks will starting selling that information. And that information will be pretty reliable. After all, how many of us only use ATMs and if 20s are the largest bill dispensed, how likely will we get 20s in our change. Meaning most 20s spent will have come from an ATM.
Therein lies a juicy new source of income for the stores. In order to get "listed" in the product directory, I can see the stores charging a fee to the suppliers, much in the way shelf space is sold to those vendors who are willing to pay for it. For example, look at the soft drink isle in any grocery - Coke and Pepsi products get 2/3 or more of the shelf space, while off brands get enough for a row of 6 packs. It's a big barrier to new product entry and limits choices to the consumer.
You! Yes, YOU! Out of the gene pool!
With computers tracking every grocery item purchased, I thought it would be really cool if they would give you a sum total of nutritional value of your grocery purchases. Assuming that you actually eat what you purchase, this would give you an idea if you are getting the RDA of the different nutrients you need. Technology could actually help us eat a balanced diet. Imagine how cool it would be if the grocery cart told you that it looked like you were getting too many carbs and not enough protein...
Unfortunately, all of this technology is being used to make the quick short term gain of tricking people into more and more impulse buys and having the overall effect of decreasing the quality of the modern diet.
I suspect the talking cart will be a grocery store annoyance on par with screaming kids in the playland carts that are the current fad.
"We'll see more change in the next five years in the way people shop than in the last 20," said Dan Hopping, a consulting manager with IBM who specializes in store operations and merchandising.
Did anyone tell this guy about the internet? Somehow I don't find talking shopping carts to be more of a revolution in shopping then internet sales. Talk to me when this talking shopping cart leaves from my house, picks up the items I want, then returns with my purchases. Now that's a revolution!
Does anybody really feel that they are being more accurately targetted these days?
My friend in an apartment got a telephone soliciation selling vinyl siding; I am constantly bombarded with inappropriate solicitations. It seems the promise of technology was to allow more astute use of the tools and information at hand to tailor advertisement to those who have an interest, but has anyone actually experienced this?
My experience has indicated that while the data and technology is available to allow for more targeted marketing, people in the industry feel that the indiscriminate "bulk approach" is more productive. This would be consistent with the realization that we are becoming more and more desensitized to suggestion, and more suggestion and promotional invasion is needed to transmit the same message nowadays. So is the use of technology and information truly beneficial in the future of marketing?
...but really, isn't this just yet another scheme to get us to buy more crap that we don't need? wow, those smart guys found *another* place to bombard us with advertising and suggestions in order to profit and make us spend spend spend.
it's not like its gonna look at my cart and say "how about some macaroni and cheese to go with your hotdogs". it's gonna say "don't forget to pick up a box or three of Kraft brand macaroni and cheese. it's the cheesiest! it'll go great with your Oscar Meyer weieners...and don't forget about the great deals you'll find on Bush's baked beans - from a generations old family secret", and on and on and on.
i can make my own decisions (albeit very slowly) about what to buy in the grocery store. so this thing needs an off switch.
maybe a useful (non advertising) implementation would be something like this:
...just a thought
say you have a limited budget to spend on food, and you need to make it thru x number of days. if the computer knows your likes/dislikes and the general eating habits (once again, this might be giving out too much info) of yourself (and family), then it could possibly make meal suggestions that would allow someone to be certain that they have enough food to last the week or whatever and stay within budget.
i'm not embarassed to say that i've been very broke before and have receieved food stamps (not now), and at other times just didn't make a whole lot, but still had to be very careful about budgeting my food money to make sure everyone ate and i could still put gas in the car, etc. something like this would have been helpful, i suppose. i guess the same thing could be put in a PDA or even a cell phone now, but most people who are scraping by don't have either of those.
for example:
"since you enjoy potato chips and eat 1-2 bags per week, you'll be glad to know that you can buy two bags for the price of one in aisle six. you have $34.32 left in your food budget."
"if you buy the large bag of french fries for x dollars, according to your programmed meal habits you will have enough for an extra side of them later in the week, possibly with your hamburgers."
etc, etc...