3D Displays to Make Window Shopping an Interactive Experience

The latest sign that Minority Report predicted our tech future? 3D, interactive window displays may soon be coming to a retailer near you. Though not as intrusive as the facial-identification GAP display in that iconic Tom Cruise film, a new “Connected Store” concept by Intel brings a wall-sized 3D product browsing system to an Adidas store.

According to SmartPlanet, Intel’s concept, which debuted at the annual National Retail Federation show last week, lets shoppers browse products, zoom in, and view specs with a few hand gestures. Intel isn’t the only one getting on the 3D marketing bandwagon; researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications in Berlin are working on a system where shoppers could select products displayed in a store window and beam them up on a screen to view more information—and even buy them if the store is closed.

This 3D display system uses four strategically placed 3D cameras to record the movements of people who pass by the store. Imaging processing software allows window shoppers to request additional information about a chosen product. The interactive display could even help retailers assess which products shoppers are interested in buying. This all begs the question: Do you think a more interactive window-shopping experience is more convenient, or are we veering into surveillance territory?

via SmartPlanet