NearbyNow: Shopping to get creepy cool?
May 19th 2008
NearbyNow has announced (MarketWire) it has revealed a sneak preview of a new mobile service for the iPhone that allows shoppers to graphically navigate a shopping center, search local inventory and reserve items for pick up.
NearbyNow and TheFind have agreed to join together to enhance the shopping experience for millions of Internet users by integrating online shopping search with local store inventories. Shoppers using TheFind.com will soon be able to click a button to search local store inventories for the products they like and reserve the items for pickup at over 30,000 participating store locations of over 200 leading national retailers. This capability will simplify local shopping by letting consumers, for the first time, search and find the desired product online and then have it put on hold for purchase at a local store location.
The future is now...
If you're thinking this is reminiscent of the film Minority Report, I'm with you.
Specifically, the scene where Tom Cruise (John Anderton) is moving through a mall and scanners identify him and target him specifically with personalized audio common ons was particularly creepy.
[Sportswear] Stressed out John Anderton? Need a vacation? Come to Aruba!
[Lexus] It's not just a car, Mr Anderton. It's an environment, designed to soothe and caress the tired soul...
What NearbyNow et al are schlepping isn't nearly as sophisticated, but it certainly brings a Minority Report-like future clearly into view.
I certainly wish NearbyNow well (it's cool stuff), but this convergence with Hollywood friction here in the now should give us pause...
What's your take?
