Kinect with your grocery cart in a whole new way
Here at ZDNet Health, we love a good wellness-related application of Kinect technology. Nothing is cooler than seeing a widely available platform for touch-free computing with plenty of developer resources applied in real, potentially life-changing ways.
This cool YouTube video showcases how Kinect technology could help people living with disabilities do their shopping. Watch as the Kinect makes the cart follow along behind the shopper. The shopper in a wheelchair would still need a good range of motion in the upper body in order for this approach to work. The good stuff starts at about 1:19, but watch the whole thing if you want to see a comparison between the old, cumbersome method and the new Kinect approach.
I can't help but think that it would be even nicer if people would simply pitch in to help their differently abled fellow citizens, but that may not be realistic or practical for everyone, especially in terms of scheduling conflicts. However, that solution wouldn't foster independence the way this neat Kinect application does. People feel better when they know they are able to do things for themselves when they need to. A good balance of help and self-sufficiency contribute to the wellbeing of any person, regardless of ability level.
So look for this Kinect solution, or something like it, in your futuristic grocery store...just remember to be kind, and refrain from grousing when it takes up most of the aisle!
What do you think of this Kinect shopping approach? Let us know in the comments below.
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