Amazon is removing Just Walk Out technology from all Fresh grocery stores in the US. . The self-checkout system relies on multiple cameras, sensors and good old-fashioned human eyeballs to track what people leave the store with, and charges customers accordingly.
technology suffered on issues . Most importantly, Just Walk Out only provides the illusion of automation and the like. This is where smoke and mirrors come in. Although the stores don’t have actual cashiers, there are reportedly more than 1,000 real people in India scanning the camera tapes to ensure accurate checks.
The necessary equipment is also quite expensive to install and maintain, and it is likely that Just Walk Out technology has been implemented in only half of Fresh stores in the United States. There have been many frustrating issues for consumers using this system, from receipts sent hours after purchase to completely mishandled orders. In other words, each store needed a lot of sensitive equipment and 1,000 people watching video tapes to do the work of one or two people behind the cash registers. Isn’t modern innovation great?
There are also some major privacy concerns here. Remember those cameras and sensors? People are constantly collecting biometric data when shopping. This goes beyond , as cameras and sensors measure the shape and size of each customer’s body for identification and tracking purposes. This reason a accused the company of collecting biometric identifier data without properly disclosing the practices to consumers.
The lawsuit alleges that Amazon violated the state’s Biometric Identifier Information Act, which requires companies to tell customers if they are collecting data used for identification purposes. Attorney Peter Romer-Friedman, representing the plaintiffs, He told “The Seattle Times”. “Amazon has a responsibility to explain to its customers how it operates these systems before people enter, so that people can decide for themselves whether they want to have their body size and shape measured as a condition of buying a sandwich.”
Amazon tried , but it didn’t bite much. Coupled with Starbucks in a few places and had one small release in hospitals for medical staff, but that’s about it. A sticking point? These systems require a high ceiling to house the cameras and sensors. Reuters It also offered to many retailers , sour them into a technology partnership. Those 1,000 offshore cashiers probably didn’t help on the sales floor either.
Just Walk Out technology will continue to be offered in selected UK stores. As for the US, Amazon says the elimination of these systems is part of a larger effort to revamp its retail grocery offerings. The company plans to bring Dash smart carts to retail locations after testing several Whole Foods and Fresh stores. These smart carts are equipped with scales and sensors to track expenses in real-time and, of course, allow consumers to avoid paying.
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