As a kid, I always wanted to be on the TV show "Supermarket Sweep."
In the middle of a Lowe's store in 2017, my dream almost came true. The home improvement retailer is rolling out an augmented-reality app that tells you the fastest way to find items on your list.
It's powered by Google's Tango, an indoor-mapping technology using special cameras to sense depth in 3D space. Measure objects, map a room and see virtual objects in the real world with augmented reality.
With a phone in one hand and a shopping cart in the other, I'm rushing around the aisles pulling items off the shelf. On screen I see a yellow line overlaid on the camera image, navigating me to the next item on my list. There's an aisle and shelf number in case I get really confused, as well as an estimate step counter that tells me how far I have to go.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday March 19 2017, @07:59PM (2 children)
The few times I shop in Home Depot I'm glad there are people there to answer my questions and guide me to my destination. This is just one step closer to fewer employees. I kind of like the social interaction....
That's what Uber and Ashley Madison are for, silly! (Oh, and dude, don't shop at Home Despot, it is owned and run by crazy Republican types!)
(Score: 2) by VLM on Sunday March 19 2017, @08:59PM (1 child)
That's what Uber and Ashley Madison are for
I think you're missing the meta problem of its OK when you're looking at your phone while shopping for that kind of service, but when some woman at either employer needs a phone app with augmented reality camera to, you know, properly serve you, that's when the real problem starts. "Hold on sir I need the bigger screen on my ipad to properly enjoy serving you" and all that.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 20 2017, @02:53AM
Yucks... I'd still prefer sex over a big screen iPad as social interaction.
(but that's me, kinky; others may prefer sex in bed).