[Duskrider]

GAINESVILLE, Fla. ? It looks almost like any other shopping cart, except sensors allow it to follow the shopper around the supermarket and slow down when needed so items can be placed in it, and it never crashes into anyone's heels.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/ptech/generalstories2/081006ccwcPtecRobotshopcart.9f2339.html

http://mil.ufl.edu/5666/press_links.html

[FuzzieDice]

Oh joy! LOL! That's cool as long as it doesn't follow you out to the bathroom or out to the car to get your wallet you forgot mid-way through shopping. LOL!

But really, I think it is a pretty cool idea. Thing is, for people with disabilities, it may be best to use a manual one as some folks use the normal carts also as a kind of walker.

[Art]

Innovative for shopping carts but the idea has been around for years for another kind of cart...
the golf cart. Yes, someone invented a golf cart of a smaller version that would follow you
around the course as you walked, dutifully carrying your clubs in tow.

If only it could hit that wedge shot from the sand trap for you!!

Regarding the shopping cart, let's hope the developers will get the electronics down to a
small enough size to allow one to actually put items into the cart! (Laptop, cables, battery, etc).

A new food store in my area is due to open soon and claims to allow each shopper to use a hand held
scanner. Basically, one goes about the store, picks up a desired item, scans it, and so forth until
the customer has completed his / her shopping. Customer goes to cashier and hands the hand held
scanner to the person at which point the information is automatically downloaded into the store's
computer, totaled for payment, etc..  The scanner can also keep a running total while the customer
shops. This can also be down, I believe through a self checkout line similar to those in K-Mart and Wal-Mart.

Now, if it could just remember to bag the eggs and bread on top for you! :afro

[dan]

One step further:

http://www.engadget.com/2005/08/27/gm-will-launch-self-driving-car-in-2008/

[Art]

Remember Arnold and his partner driving in the van in the movie, "The 6th Day?"
How soon it is that science fiction becomes science fact!!

Rocket Man of the early 50's, Dick Tracy and his two way wrist radio, ray guns,
robots, voice activated typing (like the typewritter on an episode of The Twilight Zone),
Smart Homes, phones, and now cars.

The future is now and we are in it!

[FuzzieDice]

I remember the self-driving car, which I hope will happen. They already have some cars one can buy that will not let you turn unless you have the turn signal on, and digital smart cruise control that slows down/speeds up depending on the vehicles ahead.

As for the autonomous golf cart - now you need it to talk and counsel you on your shots and you can replace the caddy altogether.

As for the self-checkouts, I hope that doesn't make it easier to steel though. However, now they are trying to get more stores to use RFID tags. I heard where they want to make it so you can literally just leave the store and it will automatically debit your bank account, etc! Imagine that.

[dan]

But, what would the proper tip be for the cart? :huh

[FuzzieDice]

 :2funny