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Amazon Go

(amazon.com)
1247 points mangoman | 4 comments | 05 Dec 16 14:57 UTC | HN request time: 0.832s | source
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Merad ◴[05 Dec 16 15:43 UTC] No.13106089[source]▶
I hate it when companies offer a "how this works" section that doesn't actually tell you a damned thing about how it works.

* How does my Amazon account get associated with the items I take?

* How are items detected when leaving the store? If my friend and I walk out side by side, how does it know (if it does) which items are mine and which are hers?

* What happens when someone picks up an item and leaves without first doing whatever check-in/registration/setup is necessary?

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BoysenberryPi ◴[05 Dec 16 17:05 UTC] No.13106926[source]▶
How it works sections aren't designed for the technically inclined user they are designed for the layman.
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1. pimlottc ◴[05 Dec 16 17:13 UTC] No.13106990[source]▶
They don't have to get intensely technical but they could say a little more than basically, "magic".
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2. BoysenberryPi ◴[05 Dec 16 17:24 UTC] No.13107130[source]▶
Except to a layman it is basically magic. Using X technology we did Y so you can do Z. I'm sure in coming months you'll get the in depth technical explanation you are looking for but this announcement isn't for you it's for the average person.
replies(1): >>13107234 #
3. pimlottc ◴[05 Dec 16 17:32 UTC] No.13107234[source]▶
That's a rather defeatist attitude to have about explaining technology to laymen.

For example (not saying this is how it actually works): "Scanning your phone when you enter lets us know who you are. Then, our advanced vision tracking system follows you around the store and lets us see what you're choosing. Finally, scanners in our turnstiles verify your purchases as you're leaving the store."

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4. BoysenberryPi ◴[05 Dec 16 19:17 UTC] No.13108351{3}[source]▶
This is an advertisement announcement not a technical breakdown. There is no need to even say that much.