Veggie Vision compares the grocery item to an item in its database. It is one of the futuristic products for grocery and retail stores being developed by IBM in Raleigh. They are designed to make shopping easier and faster for people always on the run.
"Most of the families with kids -- either the only parent or both parents work, and they'll do anything to get some time back, to get some life back," IBM futurist Dan Hopping said.
The Smart Cart is for people who forget to take the grocery list to the store. Instead, you make your list on the store's Web site. When you get there, it is stored in a small computer attached to the shopping cart. You can check yourself out as you shop.
"If I show the barcode to the scanner, it adds it to the list," Hopping said.
Stores in New England and Germany are already testing some of the new technology. IBM is working with 26 different retailers, including Circuit City and WalMart on "store of the future" projects.
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