The struggle of picking the fastest moving line is one no shopper is unfamiliar with. Now, to help consumers navigate queues better, a product development and tech-consulting firm has released a system that uses infrared body heat sensors to determine which line moves the fastest.
Debuted at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the ZipLine app was developed by Cambridge Consultants. The app works by combining the sensors with a low-power radio network. The infrared body heat sensors scan different queues to see how many people are in line and how long it will take. The scanners then communicate through the long-range radio network. Data from the infrared sensors is converted using algorithms and the results are readily available on the shopper’s phone to help them navigate lines.
What separates this from similar products on the market? The firm behind the app claims ZipLine is unique since it can monitor lines that are not in the same place. This means you can, in theory, determine which fast food lunch spot will be faster or which coffee shop will give your caffeine fix the quickest.
“In the increasingly competitive retail sector, technology can be a crucial differentiator,” said Tim Ensor, the head of connected devices at Cambridge Consultants. “Our ZipLine concept aims to show how taking a service design approach to a problem can give a retailer vital competitive edge by transforming the customer experience.”
With time, Ensor anticipates the ZipLine interface to be built-in with apps of department stores. “We expect the ZipLine interface will be integrated into the department store's own app,” said Ensor to MailOnline. “We're also looking at the option of using Bluetooth beacon technology which could offer the queue length information to consumers on their phone without needing to use an app at all.”
