- Jul 20, 2016
- 6,572
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Amazon is testing a new shopping idea in Seattle. It is called "just walk out". You touch your phone to a machine as you enter and it records the items you take off the shelf. Then you just leave, and the cost of the items are deducted from your bank account.
There is a certain appeal to me about this idea. How many times have we gone to the grocery store for just a few items and get caught up in the lines? The stores already track what we buy, so that ship has sailed.
I am including a link to an article about this idea that I read on Linked in. It is a thoughtful consideration of the pros and cons and is a short read. Also, I found one of the responses to the article very interesting and include it below.
This is why governments are exploring the idea of basic income, because machines will free up people from basic jobs. I don't think its fair to turn down opportunities to innovate and make our lives easier on justification that it will keep people employed, how many times have you met a happy cashier at your local store or even bothered talk to them about anything purposeful? I think the intent is the key to assessing this problem, people can easily be hired to perform other functions, e.g. customer service, offer in-store help, provide maintenance, etc. as long as the employer is not intent on maximizing profit margins rather than providing value for money. This problem goes beyond technology, its heavily compounded through politics and the financial system. By Bogdan Lazarev.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-amazongo-stores-transforming-shopping-industry-didac-hormiga
There is a certain appeal to me about this idea. How many times have we gone to the grocery store for just a few items and get caught up in the lines? The stores already track what we buy, so that ship has sailed.
I am including a link to an article about this idea that I read on Linked in. It is a thoughtful consideration of the pros and cons and is a short read. Also, I found one of the responses to the article very interesting and include it below.
This is why governments are exploring the idea of basic income, because machines will free up people from basic jobs. I don't think its fair to turn down opportunities to innovate and make our lives easier on justification that it will keep people employed, how many times have you met a happy cashier at your local store or even bothered talk to them about anything purposeful? I think the intent is the key to assessing this problem, people can easily be hired to perform other functions, e.g. customer service, offer in-store help, provide maintenance, etc. as long as the employer is not intent on maximizing profit margins rather than providing value for money. This problem goes beyond technology, its heavily compounded through politics and the financial system. By Bogdan Lazarev.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-amazongo-stores-transforming-shopping-industry-didac-hormiga