Close
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Applications
    • Applications
    • Development
    • Mobile
    • Networking

    IBM Research Conjures Up Augmented-Reality Mobile Shopping App

    By
    Darryl K. Taft
    -
    July 2, 2012
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      IBM (NYSE: IBM) is testing a new augmented-reality mobile shopping app that enables retailers to personalize each individual customer€™s shopping experience right from the palm of their hands, via their smart phone or tablet.

      The new app out of IBM Research is what IBM refers to as an augmented-reality mobile shopping app that will make it possible for consumers to pan store shelves and receive personalized product information, recommendations and coupons while they browse shopping aisles.

      According to Big Blue, consumers using the app can enter a store, download the app on their smart phone or tablet, register and create a profile of features that matter to them€”from product ingredients that could trigger an allergy, to whether packaging is biodegradable. When they point their device€™s video camera at merchandise, the app will instantly recognize products and, via augmented-reality technology, overlay digital details over the images€”such as ingredients, price, reviews and discounts that apply that day. If consumers opt in, information from their social networks can be integrated into the information stream. For instance, if a friend had reviewed or made a comment about a product they€™re looking at, they€™ll see it, IBM said in a press release on the new app.

      The video camera on the mobile device will be able to recognize products according to shapes, colors and other features using advanced image-processing technologies. The retailer€™s back-end computer system, powered by IBM Smarter Commerce software, will deliver information to the mobile device, where IBM€™s advanced augmented-reality technologies overlay the information on the product images.

      Indeed, using IBM€™s prototype app, shoppers looking for breakfast cereal could specify that they want a brand low in sugar, highly rated by consumers and on sale. As a shopper pans the mobile device€™s camera across a shelf of cereal boxes, the augmented-reality shopping app reveals which cereals meet the criteria and provides a same-day coupon to entice consumers to make a purchase.

      €œIn the age of social media, consumer expectations are soaring and people want information and advice about the products they€™re going to buy,€ said Sima Nadler, retail lead at IBM Research, in a statement. €œBy closing the gap between the online and in-store shopping experience, marketers can appeal to the individual needs of consumers and keep them coming back.€

      The app, being developed by IBM€™s Research lab in Haifa, Israel, addresses the fundamental gap between the wealth of real-time product details on the Web that in-store shoppers do not have access to as part of their browsing experience€”despite the fact that in-store shopping accounts for more than 92 percent of the retail volume, according to Forrester Research.

      Moreover, retailers will be able to use the app to build in-store traffic by connecting with individual consumers, turning marketing into a welcomed service that is not intrusive, IBM said. The app can make it easier for retailers to understand consumer likes and dislikes and offer related products in other aisles, such as bananas or milk, to accompany a cereal purchase. It could also make loyalty points and digital coupons become more convenient for shoppers, freeing them from the hassle of searching for discounts.

      A recent IBM survey found that consumers actively seek out shopping advice from peers, family, friends and strangers. It also found that consumers are eager to opt in to retail programs in exchange for coupons, rewards and discounts.

      Beyond helping consumers, this new app is expected to bring value to retailers, serving as a natural platform for them to interact with their customers at the point when purchasing decisions are made. Aside from the ability to suggest up-sell and cross-sell offers in the store itself, retailers will have the opportunity to gain invaluable insights that can help optimize floor plans and product arrangements in their stores, IBM said.

      Darryl K. Taft
      Darryl K. Taft covers the development tools and developer-related issues beat from his office in Baltimore. He has more than 10 years of experience in the business and is always looking for the next scoop. Taft is a member of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and was named 'one of the most active middleware reporters in the world' by The Middleware Co. He also has his own card in the 'Who's Who in Enterprise Java' deck.
      Get the Free Newsletter!
      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis
      This email address is invalid.
      Get the Free Newsletter!
      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis
      This email address is invalid.

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Latest News

      Zeus Kerravala on Networking: Multicloud, 5G, and...

      James Maguire - December 16, 2022 0
      I spoke with Zeus Kerravala, industry analyst at ZK Research, about the rapid changes in enterprise networking, as tech advances and digital transformation prompt...
      Read more
      Applications

      Datadog President Amit Agarwal on Trends in...

      James Maguire - November 11, 2022 0
      I spoke with Amit Agarwal, President of Datadog, about infrastructure observability, from current trends to key challenges to the future of this rapidly growing...
      Read more
      IT Management

      Intuit’s Nhung Ho on AI for the...

      James Maguire - May 13, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nhung Ho, Vice President of AI at Intuit, about adoption of AI in the small and medium-sized business market, and how...
      Read more
      Cloud

      IGEL CEO Jed Ayres on Edge and...

      James Maguire - June 14, 2022 0
      I spoke with Jed Ayres, CEO of IGEL, about the endpoint sector, and an open source OS for the cloud; we also spoke about...
      Read more
      Applications

      Kyndryl’s Nicolas Sekkaki on Handling AI and...

      James Maguire - November 9, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nicolas Sekkaki, Group Practice Leader for Applications, Data and AI at Kyndryl, about how companies can boost both their AI and...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2022 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×