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Minnesota's Mall of America Introduces a Virtual Elf "Hologram"

posted by martyb on Wednesday December 12 2018, @07:55AM   
from the fun-with-elves dept.

takyon writes:

Mall of America debuts helpful holographic elf for the holidays

How would you keep a shopping mall lively in an era when more and more people are buying their holiday gifts online? The Mall of America has a one-word answer: holograms. It's partnering with mixed reality firm VNTANA on what's billed as the "first-ever" holographic shopping concierge. Visit the mega-mall's Holiday Cottage throughout the season and you can speak to Ellie the elf (no, really, that's her name) for help tracking down top gifts. Ask about how to find an Xbox One for the kids, for instance, and Ellie will point you to the Microsoft Store.

The hologram isn't mind-blowing by itself (it's more like those Pepper's Ghost musician holograms than a true 3D image), but it's helped by a VNTANA platform that can tie a chatbot to a digital model. And no, you won't have to shout over the mall traffic -- there's a handheld microphone to take your voice requests.

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Original Submission

• One family owns both giant malls One family owns both giant malls (Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday December 12 2018, @02:22PM (1 child)

  by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday December 12 2018, @02:22PM (#773444)

  The Mall of America is managed by the Triple Five Group (which in turn is owned by Canada's Ghermezian family, along with the West Edmonton Mall).

  Parent

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• Re:One family owns both giant malls (Score: 2) by Bot on Wednesday December 12 2018, @05:57PM

  by Bot (3902) on Wednesday December 12 2018, @05:57PM (#773561) Journal

  You talk about the triple five group in a post ending with triple fours posted at 2:22 (triple two).
  I'd say JACKPOT!!!

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  Account abandoned.

  Parent