Smart Self-Service Scales 279
Roland Piquepaille writes "German researchers have developed intelligent self-service scales for supermarkets, able to recognize fruit or vegetables placed on them (photo). The scales automatically recognize the item being weighed and ask the customer to choose between only those icons that are relevant, such as various kinds of tomatoes. The scales are equipped with a camera and an image evaluation algorithm that compares the image of the item on the scale with images stored in its database. Store managers can add items to the database. The scales are now being tested in about 300 supermarkets across Europe."
Re:I really hate self service scales.. (Score:3, Informative)
here in Switzerland, self service produce weighin is everywhere. People accept without comment, and indeed seem to have nothing against it.
I suspect these devices will see much broader deployment in Europe than the US.
Re:Twice the time, twice the frustration (Score:4, Informative)
Depends on the store. In germany they often do it at checkout, also probably at aldi in switzerland. At one particularly annoying store in germany (edeka), you have to type in a 3-digit number at the scale. So you spend a lot of time looking for the place where you got your fruit or vegetable, remembering the number, going back.
These "smart" scales have been around for more than a year now at some Real,- stores, and if they are supposed to intelligently learn, they are apparently still not doing a very good job. Still, anything beats the number system.
Re:Just waaaaay too lazy! (Score:3, Informative)
Maybe I could open a shop where every product has approximately the same cost per unit mass, then just charge customers by the kilo.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pound_store [wikipedia.org]
Re:Just waaaaay too lazy! (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Too bad.. (Score:3, Informative)
I don't know who they pay to do it, but over here (in New Mexico, anyway) the grocery stores have nearly every piece stickered. Every last apple, orange and peach. And all the veggies, too. Our cashiers can be (and often are) blithering idiots.
Re:From me (Score:2, Informative)