In a world where technology renders distance irrelevant, a new patent is aiming to add another feather to the cap of wearable technology while resolving some major communication issues within a retail store environment. The patent in reference, numbered US20230309862A1, belongs to Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions, and is about a wearable gadget that can display visual information about its current status or user activities.
The problem it aims to solve has been a long-standing hurdle within retail stores. The use of wearable technology, such as headsets, for communication between retail store personnel has been limited to voice commands. The restriction that only authorized personnel can access this communication means customers, who often rely on the personnel's assistance, are left out of the communication loop.
The present limitation only allows the store personnel who receive voice communications to recognize the wearer's current activity or status. This means a customer might not know if the store personnel is already assisting another customer or dealing with a store issue, leading to confusion and potential frustration.
The patent offers a plausible solution to this issue. This proposed wearable technology, which is essentially a device worn on the ear like a headphone, includes a screen that can display images or symbols that represent what the wearer is currently doing. This visual representation can be wirelessly transmitted from another device like a phone or a computer, thus enabling people around the wearer, particularly customers, to understand what the person is up to, even if they're not privy to the voice communications enabled by the wearable technology.
Think of it like this: a retail store personnel ordered a pair of shoes from the back storehouse over the headset. A customer waiting for their assistance can look at the screen on the wearable gadget and see a symbol of shoes, meaning the personnel is busy arranging for shoes. It’s like having a 'Busy' or 'Available' sign on the ear device that communicates to customers and co-workers alike, thereby simplifying interactions and improving store efficiency.
After the problem has been solved, the retail store environment will likely become more streamlined. It will not only improve the job efficiency of store personnel but also improve the customer experience in terms of having a clearer understanding of staff availability and roles.
In conclusion, Toshiba's patent suggests a simple yet innovative solution to improve communication within a retail environment by integrating visual cues in wearable gadgets. However, as with all patents, there's no guarantee if and when this product will be available in the market. It’s all in the future's hand, a future we all are looking forward to.