Amazon is testing the future in labs around the world
Look at how Amazon is rolling out new technologies and how it is commercializing them. Who knew that when Amazon built its own data center for selling books online, it would turn this spare computing capacity into the Amazon Cloud (AWS)? And that it would build a multi-billion dollar business out of it? If this innovation is good for Amazon, it must be good for everyone else and Amazon will provide access to it to everyone - right? Sharing (for profit) is caring.
Here are two examples of how Amazon continues in this tradition.
Maybe you remember when Amazon was testing 'Just Walk Out' technology? That’s where sensors followed you through the store and were able to recognize the items you put into a shopping basket. Then it could charge your account accordingly.
This time, Amazon is testing palm scanning technology in its Whole Foods store in Seattle.
Let’s say you’re at the checkout. Now, instead of using your credit card or phone, you simply wave your hand above a reader and your (previously registered and paired with your credit card) palm print is scanned and your account charged. Is pulling out your credit card really that much to ask? That's not the point. It is simply testing and perfecting a technology. Next, that technology can be used in an office setting. Instead of carrying a badge, you can simply wave your hand in the elevator or in front of a door to get to the place where you need to go. It can be used instead of a key to get inside your home or start your car. I am sure that you can come up with many other examples.
Another example is even more interesting. Amazon is opening a hair salon in London. Say what? Reading from various news articles, it seems it will be '.. a two-story, 1,500-square-foot salon equipped with new technology, including augmented reality hair consultations and point-and-learn displays ..'. At the beginning, it will be open only to Amazon employees. Later, they’ll open it to the general public.
Is Amazon really getting into uncovering the mysteries of Blunt Bob, Short with Long Bangs, Modern Mullet, Long Pixie, Tapered Layers or Long Layers? I don't think so. My take on this is that Amazon needs to train its VR/AR technology. In a similar way Google is using its Captcha project for image labeling, described as a '.. an advanced risk analysis engine and adaptive challenges to keep malicious software from engaging in abusive activities on your website ...'. This is how Amazon will test its technology on a mass scale while giving people the option to try hundreds of new looks.
Will it be only for hair? I think more is coming. Perhaps you heard about companies like Sizer or 3Dlook. In the comfort of your home, you can use their app on your phone to measure your body so you can - without returning - buy clothes online. And once you say 'online shopping', you say Amazon.
Will Amazon keep this just for itself? Absolutely not. Amazon will definitely deploy the technology into AWS and make it available to all the clothing manufacturers to sell more in the Amazon store.
Read Amazon's mission statement - We aim to be Earth's most customer centric company. Our mission is to continually raise the bar of the customer experience by using the internet and technology to help consumers find, discover and buy anything, and empower businesses and content creators to maximise their success. All of the above fits nicely together.
Focusing on the customer is always good for business and that's the recurrent pattern.