Some bemoan the commercialization of the winter holidays, but in the spirit of “if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em,” why not look at the fun side of the seasonal shopping extravaganza? Naturally you have the giving and receiving of many gadgets, but there’s also new tech to experience in the act of shopping itself. Forget measly end-cap displays, point-of-sale technologies are getting downright digitally sophisticated.
In time for the 2009 holiday season, Apple has started testing out a new “EasyPay touch” system. Select stores are replacing their old portable computers, used by service reps to process sales, with iPod Touch units armed with advanced barcode scanners, magnetic stripe readers, and new Apple software. Functionally speaking, the EasyPay touch system is supposed to be faster and easier, but it’s also equipped to handle cash transactions by electronically signaling a nearby cash drawer. Will this make a huge difference to Apple Store customers? Probably not. But it does notch up the store’s cool factor, whether you’re buying an iPhone or a Magic Mouse.
If you live near a metropolis with an Apple Store, you might also be close to a Lego retail outlet. If so, check out Lego’s 3D packaging. This has been buzzing around the Web for a while now, and I had a chance to check it out in person at my local King of Prussia mall. A kiosk in the store lets you hold up certain Lego packages to see a 3D model of the toy inside. Turn the box and the 3D image turns too. It’s the perfect packaging for little blocks that magically have to become toy boats and dinosaurs.
Finally, Dave and I recently got an invite to a Digital Signage conference up in New York. While only Dave will be able to attend, the offer of a VIP pass from a company called Provision was enough to make me look up their business. Provision appears to specialize in much the same technology as Metaio, the company behind the Lego kiosks. However, Provision also highlights the ability to use virtual displays for dispensing coupons or targeted offers, and a release on the company’s site shows they are working with the University of Tokyo to add texture or “touchability” to 3D visuals. I don’t expect to see this in the King of Prussia Mall this year, but in future holiday seasons it could be a way to get more people off the Internet and back into brick-and-mortar stores.
Another good holiday shopping tool are mobile phone apps that use the camera as a bar code scanner / price checker.
For the iPhone there’s one called “Red Laser” ( search in the app store ).
For us “Droids” :) there is the secret bar code scanner hidden inside the mobile version of google.com that is accessible with any Android phone. More info here:
http://googlemobile.blogspot.com/2009/05/google-product-search-for-android-now.html
Good call, Todd. Even if you don’t use the barcode readers, you can still do some comparison shopping and pull up reviews. I often check the Amazon app from Best Buy.
I have been playing with amazon blackberry app on my storm2. it works really well…no need to worry about barcodes, just take a picture of the item and it finds it on amazon, and puts it in the “remembers” section of your wish lists. i think there is iphone version too
another BB app is edocrab for barcode scanning http://www.edocrab.com/
That really takes the traditional “press me to try me” approach for testing out toys your kids might like. Instead getting a full featured preview of the product in action is bound to improve sales.