I got excited when I thought this would be about Go usage on AWS, but this is way cooler.
Amazon Go
21–30 of 1001 posts
Re: Amazon Go
#22My first thought is: I don't have a supported smartphone.
The current checkout process entails the acceptance of common legal tender, but this process will require I have their app, and presumably allow it quite a bit of tracking permission.
A cool demo, sure, but I think I'll stick to shopping like the normal folks.
Re: Amazon Go
#23Wow. So groceries without checkout. I thought that at some point RFID would replace barcodes providing similar experience. However, this system claim to be based on cameras and image recognition.
I've been wondering about RFID too. But I guess if you have too many items in one place (shopping bag) it can be tricky.
Re: Amazon Go
#24I wonder how they plan to deal with fraud... some kind of check-in process instead?
I was thinking that, but then realized that the concept of fraud doesn't really apply in the way we're used to. I mean you're allowed to walk into the store, take anything you want, and then walk out.
How would you even define fraud in that context? Presumably there are things you could do to confuse or mislead the technology, but it seems to me that as presented the onus is on Amazon to just charge you the correct amount based on what you leave the store with.
Re: Amazon Go
#25So technically they built something to automatically detect shoplifting (but charge to customer in the process).
If this worked in generic stores they could make a killing with theft detection services.
Re: Amazon Go
#26Shut up and take my money.
Please just exit the store, we don't take cash here.
Re: Amazon Go
#27Here's an ad from IBM circa 2006 predicting(?) this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eob532iEpqk
Crazy to think we're actually here now. And even sans-RFID.
Re: Amazon Go
#28I wonder how they plan to deal with fraud... some kind of check-in process instead?
In the video, the customers check in with a barcode displayed on the app.
Probably there will be a guard at the entrance: the barrier will beep when someone enters without signing in, and the guard will stop them.
What's more interesting is that there can be absolutely no dead angles for this to work.
They might have cameras inside each shelve, mounted on top, to correlate products taken with the person standing in front.
But what if two persons stand close together, one leans over and takes something...
Or what if you go into the store with a friend or your kids. And you all pick up items which are supposed to go on your tab.
It's definitely a challenging problem.
Re: Amazon Go
#29They will most certainly be tracking a lot more than just you picking up your item. The data they collect about shopping behavior will be interesting.
Like, how long I hesitated before I picked up something, what I had already in my "cart" at the time, what deals I looked at but passed on, etc.
Re: Amazon Go
#30Am I normally unaware of Amazon's new products, or have they been releasing an abnormally high amount of new offerings recently?
They had AWS re:Invent 2017 last week, so that is the reason for so many announcements :)