Sorry, we replaced that old technology, “see-through glass” • Hacker News Board

Re: Sorry, we replaced that old technology, “see-through glass”

#291

Post by guywhocodes » Sat, Jun 26, 2021, 8:03 AM UTC

burnt_toast wrote: post #127

The year is 2050 and your dingy old toaster has finally given up it's last crumbs. You hop onto Amazon in hopes of finding a suitable replacement as there's no longer any box stores you can travel to. Dumb appliances have been phased out and newer internet connected appliances have taken over. It's better for the consumer they claim. Not wanting an overtly fancy contraption you pick a no frills unit that includes a t…

Thank you, it's the most depressing thing I've read in a week . However, I find it wildly optimistic this won't be our world before the 30s are over.

Re: Sorry, we replaced that old technology, “see-through glass”

#292

Post by guywhocodes » Sat, Jun 26, 2021, 8:04 AM UTC

lifeformed wrote: post #147

burnt_toast wrote: post #127

The year is 2050 and your dingy old toaster has finally given up it's last crumbs. You hop onto Amazon in hopes of finding a suitable replacement as there's no longer any box stores you can travel to. Dumb appliances have been phased out and newer internet connected appliances have taken over. It's better for the consumer they claim. Not wanting an overtly fancy contraption you pick a no frills unit that includes a t…

The toaster is free, subsidized by burning advertisements into your toast.

It won't be free, it will just be subsidized - the exact amount the unnecessary hardware cost.

Re: Sorry, we replaced that old technology, “see-through glass”

#293

Post by wodenokoto » Sat, Jun 26, 2021, 8:05 AM UTC

foxfired wrote: post #26

I do not blame cooler screen for selling this technology to anyone. But I want everyone to consider how much it takes to bring about a technology like this to a grocery store. If this is any of the big chain groceries, the manager doesn't even have the authority to put a sticker on the glass door. This was vetted by hundreds of people and none of them thought... glass? Business class tickets were purchased, hotels we…

Oh, come on.

Everyone thought "glass". The whole project, from the grocery store point of view, was about testing an alternative to glass doors.

Re: Sorry, we replaced that old technology, “see-through glass”

#294

Post by mongol » Sat, Jun 26, 2021, 8:14 AM UTC

tomcooks wrote: post #277

jollybean wrote: post #131

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"The shoppers are already in the store, presumably to buy from their list. " This isn't really how it works. If it worked that way then lighting, music, display organization, cleanliness, shelf space, brand, packaging etc. 'would not matter'. All of those things matter, immensely, at any real scale. The kinds of comments I'm seeing here are a little bit uncomfortable in this regard, indicate a kind of lack of self-aw…

Don't know about the other regions where LIDL opened shop, but in southern Europe they've made a killing by avoiding all these optimization rules. Turns out there's a huge chunk of the population who cannot waste a single cent on what marketing dept has to say

I don't think Lidl avoids them. They just play them differently.

Re: Sorry, we replaced that old technology, “see-through glass”

#295

Post by bserge » Sat, Jun 26, 2021, 8:22 AM UTC

ergot_vacation wrote: post #31

nkrisc wrote: post #13

Everyone here who’s worked for some moderately large corporation knows exactly why this was done: it’s a flashy pet project for some “labs” team in an otherwise boring retailer and maybe they’ll recoup some of the cost in ads, minus whatever they lose for it being an awful idea. Some charismatic product manager sold it to execs as “being the future of connected retail” or some other BS. In a few months they’ll be rem…

As a rough estimate, what percent of US economic activity is large piles of money being tossed into a flaming dumpster for the sake of someone's ego? Because every year it seems higher.

It's not really tossed into a flaming dumpster. Someone with less money is getting it, so that's an upside heh.

Re: Sorry, we replaced that old technology, “see-through glass”

#296

Post by clan » Sat, Jun 26, 2021, 8:23 AM UTC

burnt_toast wrote: post #127

The year is 2050 and your dingy old toaster has finally given up it's last crumbs. You hop onto Amazon in hopes of finding a suitable replacement as there's no longer any box stores you can travel to. Dumb appliances have been phased out and newer internet connected appliances have taken over. It's better for the consumer they claim. Not wanting an overtly fancy contraption you pick a no frills unit that includes a t…

They sure do not make them like they used to!

The obligatory Technology Connections link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OfxlSG6q5Y

Re: Sorry, we replaced that old technology, “see-through glass”

#297

Post by bserge » Sat, Jun 26, 2021, 8:26 AM UTC

cheese_van wrote: post #249

My gas station has installed video on the pumps and while pumping, I must listen to whatever dreck is being sold. It irritates me that I have no choice but to listen. Is there anyone, anywhere, who believes this is helping consumers make their choices? I fully expect an updated movie script where some lunatic sticks his head out the window at 2am and shouts, "I'm mad as hell and I don't want to listen to it anymore."

Businesses are going from "help consumers make their choices" to "make their choices for them".

Usually results in them failing, sometimes spectacularly.

Re: Sorry, we replaced that old technology, “see-through glass”

#298

Post by nojvek » Sat, Jun 26, 2021, 8:29 AM UTC

I bought a Nintendo switch recently. The amount of crap I needed to go through to just okay a game. I spent 2 hours, wasted about $50 on games (there is no refund).

In frustration I gave up.

In the name of ads and growth, it’s crazy how user-hostile many interfaces are.

Glass is a great interface. TVs ain’t.

Re: Sorry, we replaced that old technology, “see-through glass”

#299

Post by drran » Sat, Jun 26, 2021, 8:32 AM UTC

mrpopo wrote: post #161

readams wrote: post #135

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You forgot the part where it refuses to toast your unlicensed bread.

Also the part where the toaster version is outdated and it won't start toasting before it's up to date.

It's because it mines Bitcoins to generate heat, so it must be connected to the Bitcoin network.

Re: Sorry, we replaced that old technology, “see-through glass”

#300

Post by Broken_Hippo » Sat, Jun 26, 2021, 8:34 AM UTC

wodenokoto wrote: post #293

foxfired wrote: post #26

I do not blame cooler screen for selling this technology to anyone. But I want everyone to consider how much it takes to bring about a technology like this to a grocery store. If this is any of the big chain groceries, the manager doesn't even have the authority to put a sticker on the glass door. This was vetted by hundreds of people and none of them thought... glass? Business class tickets were purchased, hotels we…

Oh, come on. Everyone thought "glass". The whole project, from the grocery store point of view, was about testing an alternative to glass doors.

Very much this! Everyone thought glass. Not only was this about testing alternatives to glass, everything would have had their cost and possible revenue compared to glass - or possibly, to the cost of running their aging glass-doored fridge units, the decals they print for the front, and the employee hours spent on them.