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Amazon Dash

fresh.amazon.com

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Re: Amazon Dash

#201

Post by nnq »

dotBen wrote: post #32

HN'ers asking why this isn't a cell phone app take note - this exemplifies why we (geeks) don't make good use cases for consumer tech and we should always be careful looking to our own habits and values when in a Product Development role. We're rarely the target customer and rarely behave like "average Joe". We're naturally resistant to superfluous redundancy ("My phone can already snap a barcode, I don't need a sepa…

> Ultimately we shouldn't assume consumers value convergence

Yep, indeed. And the frustrating part is that they choose "easy" over "simple" and end up drowning themselves in "complexity". And they go like "I have so many devices already, and I've already went through the pain of learning to use them, I'm not going to bother to learn the mobile app you talk about too, even if it you say it can replace them all and save me money, it's jut too much for my brain, this I already know, go away!". Big win for the sellers of these devices that are first to get to the market. Amazon will win big with these!

The interesting people is how can we educate consumers to value what we call "convergence", because their current way of thinking hurts both themselves (they end up spending more and being too "overloaded" to be capable to make the best shopping decisions, or the other extreme, having access only to "curated slices of the market" with the same consequences) and to the tech sector as a whole (yeah, more devices mean more innovation at start, but since convergence will happen anyway at a point, all we end up is reinventing wheels and generating tons of needless complexity that we drown ourselves in...).

(for a definition of how I use 'simple', 'easy' and 'complex' refer to - http://www.infoq.com/presentations/Simple-Made-Easy it's about programming but I think the metaphors also apply to UI/X)

Re: Amazon Dash

#202

Post by SteveDeFacto »

dangrossman wrote: post #96

Based on the comments, I'm guessing few poeople here have ever worked retail and held a barcode scanner. Break out your phone, load up your barcode scanning app (there's 20 seconds right there even if the phone is in your pocket). Now try to actually scan something with it. You'll spend another 30 seconds lining up the little on-screen window with the code, rotating things, waiting for the camera to focus, and even h…

Sears does use a type of cell phone for checkout but it does seem to have a modified camera with a laser scanner instead. Something more interesting would have been a new type of amazon smart phone with built in laser scanner and some extra buttons for scan/talk.

Re: Amazon Dash

#203

Post by Zotabite »

cookiecaper wrote: post #196
lovemenot wrote: post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And here's a few more. Dash device is an exemplar of a service in the same way that a Kindle device is. Amazon retains the option to later go the other way too, but while the constraint is still on the supply side (limited markets) this device serves to fix the service as a thing and generate publicity. Also, the platform is controlled by Amazon. Free from interference by Apple, Google, OEM or carrier. Wifi and inter…

For what it's worth I doubt this video shows the whole story. Almost undoubtedly Amazon will batch your list up and email you a confirmation before it actually charges for and ships out the order, at which point you will be able to rectify errors in speech recognition or barcode misreadings. Since Amazon seems to be specifically targeting parents with this ad, we might as well also mention that children will certainl…

This is precisely how it works.

You say things to the mic or scan items and they show up on your Dash list. From here, you can add them to your cart to check out.

Generic things like eggs, milk etc will default to the item you typically would order, so there is an aspect of personalization to it as well.

Re: Amazon Dash

#204

Post by Zotabite »

porterhaney wrote: post #60
zanny wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Opening an app is, thankfully, something the tech industry has managed to train the average consumer to do. I'd argue though remembering where you put this thing, or "oh hey the wifi password got changed why isn't the food scanner working?" adds lots more complexity than hitting an app icon. The app route also enables you to have multiple scanners - since the target audience of such a product is probably already heav…

The loop on the end is for opening beers.

Its rubberized. Would be pretty hard to open a beer bottle with it. :)

Re: Amazon Dash

#205

Post by Too »

philwelch wrote: post #188
larrys wrote: post #186

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"it would be faster" Friction is key. The example I typically use is "if the laser printer were in the basement vs. next to your desk how much would you use it?" A device that you can pick up, hit a button, and do your thing has less friction than doing the same on a smartphone.

My smartphone is always within reach for me because I'm addicted to it. This thing? It's somewhere in the kitchen maybe.

Older generations use their phones for...calling people. Not refreshing Facebook every 30s. That means the phone will be in the last place where they made a phone call, which could easily be the basement. This thing? Its somewhere in the kitchen maybe; exactly where it is supposed to be used.

Re: Amazon Dash

#206

Post by simcop2387 »

r00fus wrote: post #199
olalonde wrote: post #182

My first thought: people are going to bring this to retail shops to get the benefits of brick-and-mortars shopping while benefiting from the low prices / delivery of Amazon. A lot of people already kind of do this. They go to a shop, find the items they like and look up on the web if they can get a cheaper price by ordering online. This version of the product might not be so practical for this use case though since i…

Exactly. Which Amazon smiles at currently and encourages through their barcode scanning app (this will require internet access for Dash, though - unless it comes with some variation of whispersync).

Says it needs an internet connection, but a cell phone as a hotspot would do that pretty easily.

Re: Amazon Dash

#208

Post by Too »

hansy wrote: post #88
alaskamiller wrote: post #16

Number of steps to scan grocery by phone: 1. Find your phone 2. Unlock 3. Swipe left to home page three or maybe four 4. Visually scan for the AmazonFresh icon and tap 5. Wait for loading 6. Start scanning action 7. Confirm and pay Number of steps to scan grocery by Dash: 1. Get device from drawer or pantry 2. Press one button and scan 3. Confirm and pay For the target demo (30+, married, households with children), o…

Not to be a pedant but you're neglecting steps in your Dash algorithm that you implemented in the phone version (possibly creating a visual bias). Number of steps to scan grocery by Dash: 1.) Find scanner 2.) Turn on scanner 3.) Start scanning action 4.) Find laptop (or mobile phone) 5.) Navigate to browser 6.) Sign in to Amazon Fresh Account 7.) Confirm and pay I don't honestly think the Dash would provide a discern…

1. Do you have to find your frying pan every time you cook food also? This is a kitchen utensil with a dedicated storage location. Its not comparable to finding your phone which might still be left in your car even.

2. I think its very unlikely a device like this in year 2014 will have a power on button. Scan and power on will most likely be the same thing. Charging battery of yet another device is still a hurdle though

4-7 is something you only do once a week, and this action could still be done on the phone,

Re: Amazon Dash

#209

Post by ams6110 »

nolok wrote: post #141
scep12 wrote: post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Alternatively, if you had an 'always listening phone' like the Moto X, your flow might go something like this: Option A 1. Ask your phone to buy {name of item} 2. Screen turns on, tap to confirm your purchase Option B 1. Find the Dash device 2. Scan the item (if you haven't already discarded or recycled it, and haven't ruined the barcode in the process of opening it) 3. Confirm and pay To me, Dash feels like a (possi…

> 1. Ask your phone to buy {name of item} Outside theory, I don't see that working very well in the real world currently. On amazon fresh website, there are currently 229 results for "green apples" 8 results for "granny smith apples" 2 results for "1 granny smith apples" Same with ham, eggs, or any other products really. Sure, the user could be more specific, but then it gets a lot more work and problematic than simp…

Where is the barcode on a granny smith apple?

Re: Amazon Dash

#210

Post by LeicaLatte »

Now this feels like the future.

I am curious what the upgrade cycles of these products will end up being. Can Amazon charge a subscription and keep giving me a new one?

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