Slashdot Mirror
High-Tech Shopping Carts
neutron_p writes "A Massachusetts-based supermarket chain says it will roll out new intelligent shopping carts that promise to make food shopping much more personalized and interactive. They will let shoppers email their shopping lists to the store and check prices on the spot. Each new 'Shopping Buddy' cart mounts a wireless, touch-screen IBM computer, equipped with a laser scanner. The computer will also alert shoppers as they approach favorite items or promotions."
[BA-DA-BUM!]
I'll be here all night!
stop!! You need to buy two boxes of twinkies.
Alerting the homeless person who just stole the cart when they are coming upon an empty cardboard box.
...and yet they still can't make them go straight when you push 'em.
"On your left is new, improved, Scratch-No-More cream! Try it on that mysterious rash, instead of that off-brand cream you've been buying recently!"
Q: What does the "B." in Benoit B. Mandelbrot stand for? A: Benoit B. Mandelbrot
"Hello, I am your Automated Checkout Buddy!"
"According to your 'Shopping Buddy', you have been purchasing steaks and mayonnaise and whole milk and cookies and ice cream more often than should a man of your height and weight...
"So we have added a mandatory health insurance/HMO/medicare surcharge to your total.
"Have a nice day!"
The computer will also alert shoppers as they approach favorite items or promotions.
Oh great, like I need a machine alerting me and everyone around me that we're approaching the condom aisle and there's a discount on my usual brand in bulk quantities.
...
Ok, yeah, i know, wishful thinking...
this isn't a sig. i type this (including the two dashes), every time i post, just to make it look like a sig.
http://www.skoopy.com/show2.php?id=755&type=VI D/
I see you're trying to buy some ice cream.
Would you like me to.
*Suggest a flavour
*Warn you about your weight
*Make on of the wheels on the trolley wonky and steer you to the frozen yoghurt section
RoseColor red={0, 0xffff, 0x0000, 0x0000};VioletColour blue={0, 0x0000, 0x0000, 0xffff};find / -name *mybase*|chown you
Massachusetts' mayor annoounced a program to educate the city's bums in order for them to take advantage of the new high-tech shopping cart technology, like inventory tracking of all the cans/stuff they put in and a wireless service that provides aluminum-can-to-booze market ratios for them to get more bang from their cans.
In addition, future features could include pharmacy favorites, ordering and notification, as well as product information that allows for comparison with similar items, consumer ratings and gift suggestions.
Wife: I can't believe you gave our nine-year old son a box of detergent for a birthday present!
Husband: I know, that's the last time I get my gift advice from a fucking shopping cart!
oh how wonderful: Now our shopping carts can spam us. YOU'VE GOT MAIL!. The in-store pharmacy reports you have a prescription for Viagra. Based on customers with similar prescriptions ...Other products that may interest you are handcream, vaginal lubricants, ky jelly,the sports illustrated swimsuit edition and Depends--the oops undergarment for seniors.
1. Increase overhead astronomically.
2. ???
3. Profit!
1. Are they weatherproof? Will they go berserk from leaving them in the rain?
2. You can now get your car dinged by a shopping cart that costs around the same or more than some used cars.
3. Will the homeless have to pay property tax on a shopping cart that costs so much!
/^([Ss]ame [Bb]at (time, |channel.)){2}$/
Yes, be sure to pitch this idea to the next bum you see. We'll overlook the fact that bathed in a month, and mutters incoherently. Hopefully, he'll find the clarity of mind to set up an ebay account and fence stolen electronics. And rent an apartment. And vote Republican. It's the American dream!
I'm an introvert. Just being at the store is about all the interactivity I want in a given day. Make it any more interactive and I'm going to need some quiet time afterwards!
Have already been Hacked.
......; done.
$3 Car RC attached to a $5 memo player slid into handlebars with messages, "buy" "you are overweight", "you don't need that", "not on special, full price", "other brand cheaper" and "I saw that" and "He's Cute" "computercart, thank you for shopping at
Before that - a walkie talkie, but they get suspicious&spotted too easilly. Best hidden on a "Customer Satisfaction" survey pad thingy, bolted onto the handlebars.
A UK firm fitted RC brakes to a trolley, causing trolley to erratically steer on demand - done. The funny aspect was seeing the reaction of another person taking it, after being rejected by the 1st, and it then steering flawlessly.
A US firm demonstrated that by playing German or French music, influenced the type of wine bought.
As for trolley return, Aldi's (.de) coin/chain system works.
Next time you shop, consider that the trolleys are never washed or wiped, and you observation of public restroom practices.
A clean, hygenic trolley, before a 'smart' one, is the real need here.
Those are _my_ opinions based on my experience.
*shrug*
It's not like am offering my professional opinon on Slashdot. Those were personal statements, nothing more.
Get a life.
Great, now we've found a way to outsource cashier work over to data entry jobs in India.
---Technology will liberate us if it doesn't enslave us first.
and pulls out a shotgun, I'm sure that the cart will give a helpful warning, and then after they blow the cart away, the PA system will inform everyone.
One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
E-shopping disturbs me: "Other people who have baught duct tape have also baught XXL dustbin bags, Shogun kitchen knives and airifles"
Change is certain; progress is not obligatory.