Microsoft Announces Automated Grocery Carts

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Discussion Overview

The thread discusses the announcement of a high-tech grocery cart developed by Microsoft and MediaCart, which scans items and automates checkout. Participants share their thoughts on the implications of such technology, including privacy concerns, the effectiveness of automated systems, and personal experiences with grocery shopping.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Opinion-based
  • Anecdotal
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant mentions the cart's ability to scan items and automate checkout, expressing concern about the need for frequent shopper cards and targeted advertising.
  • Another participant recalls seeing similar concepts previously and finds them interesting.
  • Several users express discomfort with the idea of constant surveillance and targeted ads while shopping.
  • One participant questions whether the cart will automatically bag groceries, while another humorously notes the challenges of using plastic bags.
  • One participant shares a positive experience with reusable bags and their effectiveness in transporting groceries.
  • Another participant expresses a desire for the cart to provide calorie counts to help manage impulse buys.
  • Some participants reflect on the environmental impact of plastic bags and the changing perceptions around them.
  • One participant shares skepticism about the durability of the automated cart and recounts a frustrating experience with self-checkout systems.
  • Several participants discuss their experiences with making reusable bags from various materials, including plastic bags and old t-shirts.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Views differ on the desirability and practicality of the automated grocery cart, with some expressing enthusiasm for the technology while others raise concerns about privacy and functionality. No clear consensus emerges on the overall effectiveness or acceptance of such systems.

Contextual Notes

The discussion reflects a mix of personal experiences and opinions regarding grocery shopping practices, technology, and environmental considerations.

Who May Find This Useful

Participants interested in the intersection of technology and grocery shopping, as well as those reflecting on personal shopping experiences and environmental impacts of shopping practices, may find this discussion relevant.

The_Kitchen_Guy
The_Kitchen_Guy
Silver Member
Messages
12,389
Microsoft has announced a joint development with MediaCart for a high tech grocery cart. The cart will scan your choices as you put them in the cart and automatically check you out when you leave the store.

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/2008/01/mediacart-microsoft.jpg

The bad news is that you will need one of those frequent shopper cards, that tracks your purchases. Advertising will be customized to you, so you'll be bombarded with product ads, as you enter each aisle, based on what is in that aisle and what your buying habits are.

No, I'm not joking. You can read about this here.

Now if we could come up with barcodes for our customers...:rolleyes:
 
I saw this concept a year or so back...interesting to see more now.
 
I've heard about these. Some stores already use them. Or something similar. They are tied to a credit/debit card, so you don't even need to go through the checkout lane.

Too much "big brother" for me.
 
Do they automatically bag your groceries too?
 
pamperedlinda said:
Do they automatically bag your groceries too?
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Probably about as well as using those cheap plastic bags at Walmart...can't even get those from cart to car without losing half my stuff!!!!
 
I have a crochet pattern that uses those bags instead of yarn to make a better tote bag. :)
 
Glad they're good for SOMETHING!
 
chefann said:
I have a crochet pattern that uses those bags instead of yarn to make a better tote bag. :)
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I have a friend who makes those - rather ingenious. she hates the part where you have to cut the bags up though.
 
Honestly, I would LOVE to shop at a store with one of those carts. I spend so much time in the grocery store it's ridiculous. And then waiting in line... I hate going through a checker because they never bag my groceries the right way (um, don't put my bleach with my food!). I usually do self check because I can make sure the prices are right and that my groceries are bag the way I want to take them out when I get home.
 
I wish it would give a calorie count too of the food items!!! :eek: For me, it would probably help me make less impulse buys. :thumbup:
 
chefann said:
I've heard about these. Some stores already use them. Or something similar. They are tied to a credit/debit card, so you don't even need to go through the checkout lane.

Too much "big brother" for me.
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Me too! Plus - the constant ads in every aisle would annoy me to no end!:grumpy:

And what happens when you put stuff back? I do that all the time - put stuff in my cart, and then decide to get something different, or decide that I am going to be strong and NOT buy that French Silk Ice Cream.......




On the plastic bag front - Meijers has started selling these great reusable bags ~ I bought 8 of them (for only $8) and use those every week - LOVE them!
 
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[rant]
The dogooders, the ones who told us 25 years ago we had to save trees and use plastic shopping bags, are now the same dogooders bemoaning that we have to get rid of plastic shopping bags because they're an environmental hazard. They're pointing out that trees are a renewable resource...HELLO!?! That's what some of us tried to tell those idiots 25 years ago - and I think of those morons every time I try to fish a plastic grocery bag down out of a tree - or pay to much for gasoline that's diluted with corn.
[/rant]I don't mind the automated shopping cart so much - personal privacy pretty much went out the window with the Internet.
 
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ChefBeckyD said:
Me too! Plus - the constant ads in every aisle would annoy me to no end!:grumpy:

And what happens when you put stuff back? I do that all the time - put stuff in my cart, and then decide to get something different, or decide that I am going to be strong and NOT buy that French Silk Ice Cream.......




On the plastic bag front - Meijers has started selling these great reusable bags ~ I bought 8 of them (for only $8) and use those every week - LOVE them!
Click to expand...
My grandmother used canvas tote bags 50 years ago so she didn't build up a huge pile of paper sacks.

I used canvas tote bags in the local Pick 'n' Slave 15 years ago and got laughed out of the place.
 
The_Kitchen_Guy said:
[rant]
The dogooders, the ones who told us 25 years ago we had to save trees and use plastic shopping bags, are now the same dogooders bemoaning that we have to get rid of plastic shopping bags because they're an environmental hazard. They're pointing out that trees are a renewable resource...

HELLO!?! That's what some of us tried to tell those idiots 25 years ago - and I think of those morons every time I try to fish a plastic grocery bag down out of a tree - or pay to much for gasoline that's diluted with corn.
[/rant]

I don't mind the automated shopping cart so much - personal privacy pretty much went out the window with the Internet.
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This annoys me to no end. I know what you mean, KG. When we grew up we were raised with an awareness of the environment and against litter, etc. I see more litter than I ever remember pre-"Indian with the tear" days. Where did the fines for littering go? Seems like when the "green" people got into the corporate world, they forgot about what we learned. I try to teach my son, but he can't see what the big deal is about.:(
 
You could actually stand the new fabric totes up in your cart and bag as you go. Ok, they may not stand up completely empty, but you know what I mean. I have bought 4 of them and love them. I use them all the time and the deep covered baker fits nicely in the bottom for transporting, although not greatly protected.
 
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baychef said:
This annoys me to no end. I know what you mean, KG. When we grew up we were raised with an awareness of the environment and against litter, etc. I see more litter than I ever remember pre-"Indian with the tear" days. Where did the fines for littering go? Seems like when the "green" people got into the corporate world, they forgot about what we learned. I try to teach my son, but he can't see what the big deal is about.:(
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The "Indian with the tear" ad disappeared because it was so effective that littering stopped being a problem.

That's like not immunizing kids against TB because it's almost extinct.
 
Oh KG, you HAD to bring up ethanol...grrr...talk about a good way to raise my grocery prices...just go build a new refinery people!
 
janetupnorth said:
Oh KG, you HAD to bring up ethanol...grrr...talk about a good way to raise my grocery prices...just go build a new refinery people!
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Okay - this is the biggest mystery to me...what is the deal with that? It gets talked about and talked about....why doesn't someone build one?
 
chefann said:
I have a crochet pattern that uses those bags instead of yarn to make a better tote bag. :)
Click to expand...

I've seen a knitting pattern similar to that too!

Personally, I like the bags I made out of old t-shirts that still had life, just not as fashion. LOL... two t-shirts make a VERY sturdy grocery bag, only problem is I tend to over stuff them (they stretch, a little) and then they're too heavy to carry. LOL
 
As for the computer cart, I don't see those holding up. I mean, the last time our grocery store redid the aisles, they put these aisle locator things on the cart and they were mostly broken off within a week... I don't see those things holding up to most folks, kids hanging off the cart and other things.. plus, how's it gonna take weighed items? I'm not looking forward to something like that. I can't even stand self-check out things... they are SOOOOO frustrating and do not work half the time. One time I really gave it a good go... 15 minutes later (for one bag of groceries) I vowed never to bother... the gal in the express aisle is paid to do her job for a reason. LOL
 
chefann said:
I have a crochet pattern that uses those bags instead of yarn to make a better tote bag. :)
Click to expand...

Are you offering to make plastic tote bags for anyone who sends you a bunch of Wal-Mart bags???? Are you, Are you?!?!?!?
 
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ChefBeckyD said:
Okay - this is the biggest mystery to me...what is the deal with that? It gets talked about and talked about....why doesn't someone build one?
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The ecoweenie's will not allow it. They are the same ones who are blocking oil dilling in ANWR and don't want us to build any more coal plants.
 
lkprescott said:
...... I can't even stand self-check out things... they are SOOOOO frustrating and do not work half the time. One time I really gave it a good go... 15 minutes later (for one bag of groceries) I vowed never to bother... the gal in the express aisle is paid to do her job for a reason. LOL
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I agree with you! I don't self check out either. I don't work there, why should I pay you to let me work there? Now, if they gave me a discount for doing their job I might be more inclined to self check out.
 
katie0128 said:
Are you offering to make plastic tote bags for anyone who sends you a bunch of Wal-Mart bags???? Are you, Are you?!?!?!?
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No, but I can send you the pattern. :) I think it takes something like 50 bags, too.
 
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pamperedlinda said:
I agree with you! I don't self check out either. I don't work there, why should I pay you to let me work there? Now, if they gave me a discount for doing their job I might be more inclined to self check out.
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I love self check out! I HATE standing in lines, especially if I have a handful of items.

We don't have any in Wisconsin, it might be against the law in this regressively progressive state.
 
I LOVE self check my boyfriend hates it.....he says if I want to scan my items so bad then I need to get a job at wal-mart paying me to do it. lol If I had enough money to not worry about income I would LOVE to be a checker & scan items all day :) crazy huh....lol
 
I love the self check out things because I really really hate dealing with stupid kids. I understand that I'm still a kid since I'm only 21, but at the same time these high school kids need to quit bs-ing with their friends while at work!!! That seems to be very common at all the local grocery stores.
and those totes that you can get really cheap, at some grocery stores they give you a discount! They also have them at Target, although they give no discount.
 
I really hate when people go through the self-check lines with more than 15 items. It's clearly posted - go to the regular line when you have a cart full!
 
The_Kitchen_Guy said:
I love self check out! I HATE standing in lines, especially if I have a handful of items.

We don't have any in Wisconsin, it might be against the law in this regressively progressive state.
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I will do whatever it takes to not stand in a line.....I don't even care if it takes me longer to do it myself, at least I'm doing something, and not just standing in line. I HATE standing in lines!


And Ann - it completely ticks me off when someone has a cart full of groceries in the 15 items or less lane - I always want to ask them if they know how to read and count!:D
 
ChefBeckyD said:
I will do whatever it takes to not stand in a line.....I don't even care if it takes me longer to do it myself, at least I'm doing something, and not just standing in line. I HATE standing in lines!


And Ann - it completely ticks me off when someone has a cart full of groceries in the 15 items or less lane - I always want to ask them if they know how to read and count!:D
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Okay -- had to share ... found it way too funny ... was in the express lane (8 or less) today with a couple things, and there was a gal in front of me with a dozen eggs, a bag of oranges, and a bag of milk (the one gallon bag that has 3 smaller bags inside) -- the checkout clerk told her she had too many items for that lane because there were 12 eggs, 5 oranges, and 3 bags in the milk!!!! Talk about moronic!!!!!!
 
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