Microsoft Will Stream Ads To Grocery Carts

dptalia writes "Later this year, at ShopRite supermarkets in the eastern US, Microsoft will be rolling out computerized shopping carts. These carts will allow people with a ShopRite card to enter their shopping list on the ShopRite site from home, and then pull up the list on their grocery cart when they swipe their card. The new carts will also display advertisements depending on where in the supermarket the cart is, using RFID technology to help locate it."

Comments

No MS OOXML for typing this shopping list...

[christian.einfeldt]

Because even Microsoft has had trouble implementing Microsoft OOXML. So much for using an implementation Microsoft OOXML to type up that grocery list. So much for truly open XML standards.

And while Microsoft is tying its solution to someone else's shopping cart, Apple is planning on letting you carry your shopping list with you on your own device, and just pointing it at stuff to buy it. No annoying advertising there, and it is not tied to one store or one chain of stores:

Customers with a ShopRite loyalty card will be able to log into a Web site at home and type in their grocery lists; when they get to the store and swipe their card on the MediaCart console, the list will appear. As shoppers scan their items and place them in their cart, the console gives a running price tally and checks items off the shopping list.

Disloyal customers, such as those running GNU Linux, will be shown the door, or barred from entering the store in the first place. Imagine not being able to shop for food because you don't use Microsoft Windows. No thanks. I don't want any viruses in my food or my shopping list.

Re:Baaaaahhaaah! Baaaahhh!

[iocat]

Ok, but... if you read the crap they send you, there are like coupons in there. You can save money. Some people could give a shit if the government and corporations track their every move, if they can save $1 on dog food. I don't know.... I can't condemn frugality and coupon clipping, even if it does mean reading junk mail. I disapprove of the TVs everywhere trend (except in Japan, where the TVs play nature videos a lot) for sure, but just because not everyone is opposed to savings cards and targeted ads, doesn't mean they're all sheep. They may just have different values.

Of course, they are probably SUV driving mouth breathers, but...

Re:I'm guessing he's not frugal either.

[Seumas]

What's not cost effective about it? I could spend the time and trouble going to Safeway or Albertsons or Kingsoopers and buying groceries or I could save all that time and effort and pay Safeway or Albertsons or Kingsoopers to bring the SAME groceries TO ME. The same groceries I'd by myself. From the same store I'd buy them from myself. Except their employees are bagging and delivering them FOR me. Overpaying $30 to $50 per week?! Really?! Sorry, but I only pay $10 for delivery and my time and effort are CERTAINLY worth that every couple weeks.