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

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

#301
post #268

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> You forgot the part where it refuses to toast your unlicensed bread. The RFID chips make the toast taste better!

A QR code is baked on the backside on it in the bakery. People with too much time (and bread) on their hands soon figure out which spots you need to darken with a clothes iron so the checksum still matches and the toaster accepts the slice.

The toast is coated with special chemicals which will cause the body of anyone whose genetic code does not match the license owner to reject it.

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

#302

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…

This is perhaps the existential crisis that engineering in all its forms has to deal with. Much of the Western ethos and certainly engineering culture in general is about making life better. Instead, our only task now is making it more profitable.

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

#303
post #210

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…

I use to be so enthusiastic about technology. Now I almost dread the next innovation for how it will inevitably find it’s major use case in advertising. I swear I’m turning Luddite.

What solidified this in me was when Microsoft announced Trusted Computing, some 15 years ago[0]. I was scarred with the fact that technology enables so much abuse and that the companies will spin it until it sounds like a plus for the customer. And later, it basically became the Zeitgeist. We kind of returned to remotely managed thin clients, instead of Computing really being Personal.

[0] https://www.mcpressonline.com/programming-other/microsoft/mi...

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

#304

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> will be replaced with an ad I'm not sure what that means. These already are ads. They are directly advertising the products literally inside the case.

> They are directly advertising the products literally inside the case. Well, yeah, but glass would be just as effective and much cheaper. So they're doing something in addition to that. If the requirement was "display the goods we have for sale" then glass beats this thing in virtually every way. Cheaper, minimal maintenance, no firmware updates, and most of all: familiar. But these are going to be: * Tracking consu…

Well, yeah, but glass would be just as effective and much cheaper.

I'm not sure. Home fridge doors didn't traditionally have glass because it doesn't insulate as well as, well, insulation. Glass is also a leaking point in houses. Especially if they were replacing older, less efficient units, they might use less power, and seem cheaper in the long run. Bonus points if the price changes and sale tags are electronic and require less work.

The other thing these do, at least with the ads, is provide moving images. Humans notice these, so it is likely that more folks notice the drink coolers due to the movement on the screens.

They already track consumer interest - loyalty cards, regular purchases, and credit cards selling data does this.

Coke tried changing prices dependent on whether: Folks have outcried over that. The others, though: This is normal store stuff. Foot traffic is pretty predictable, and has already been accounted for. Sports events? Known if it drives your sales. Historical engagement? Probably shows in the inventory.

In general, if a planogram is updated, someone goes and changes it. I cannot think of a reason for the door to update before someone has the planogram completed, and any company large enough to have those screens now would do this (I worked at CVS, and generally was assigned planograms). Even new item reports have to have a code for completion. And most folks put most things up correctly so long as there is some sort of label there (and there probably is so long as inventory and ordering controls use barcodes).

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

#305

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.

Nah, it's just a bit cheaper until non-ad supported toaster makers go out of business, and then you both pay, and watch ads. Like with cable television.

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

#306

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…

I'll put this up in my favorite short stories section, along with the Verification Can and the Libertarian Police Department[0].

[0] https://www.newyorker.com/humor/daily-shouts/l-p-d-libertari...

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

#307

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, standard American kitchen: butter on the counter (in a semi-airtight butter tray) and eggs in the fridge.

I have never seen anyone in America keep their butter on counter and not in the fridge. I have lived in 7 states in both coasts and upper Midwest. Generally, I assumed if it’s in the refrigerator in grocery store (which butter is) then it goes in refrigerator at home.

How do you spread the butter then?

Or do you mean something else than butter?

I grew up on a farm and the first first 15 or so years of the life ordinary butter was the onlh alternative.

It had to be kept in a jar at the counter or it would become unusable.

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

#308

In the '90s I was in a technology based art class at CMU. An artist talked about a project they wanted to do: a music streamer, but it would use GPS to know it's location, and play music from the local culture, to keep you connected to your surroundings. Another student said: "You mean, a radio?"

Consider how heavily regulated radio frequencies are, and suddenly mobile internet, streaming, GPS and an app makes much more sense.

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

#310

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

There are electronic price tags for shelfs that don't need printing.
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