Science of Shopping: Cameras and Software that Track our Shopping Behavior
Go into any grocery store and cameras may be watching you. These cameras are not looking for thieves, they’re looking for shoppers! The cameras are focused on the tops of peoples’ heads (so it’s anonymous), but they don’t have to see faces to track which store aisles get the most traffic and how long consumers spend looking over products. With support from the National Science Foundation, computer scientist and CEO of VideoMining Rajeev Sharma and his team have designed software that automatically generates statistics about in-store shopping behavior. These statistics can provide valuable insights for supporting critical decisions in store layout design, merchandising, marketing, and customer service. Sharma’s team has developed similar technology to help caregivers monitor the elderly.
If you are in a store that has this technology, change up your normal behavior. Walk down an aisle the opposite way you normally would. Choose a different product on purpose.
Not sure if I like the idea of this. As interesting as this topic seems I see the results being used to to make products more attractive and the ‘shopping experience’ more enjoyable. As it stands a lot of people shop for what is cheap or for what is popular and little emphasis seems to be placed on what is good for the person or good for the ecosystem. I can see larger corporations paying for more attention while the competitors have to settle for the less trafficked locations. Just my thoughts.
Can’t speak for anyone else but I, for one, simply look at prices and buy the lowest one possible.