pointing out the obvious

This is where things start getting interesting. Google applies for a Kiosk patent, with diagrams showing a ‘Google Kiosk’ application that will search for products within a shopping mall. The results indicate which stores sell said product, and any relevant coupons you might use to purchase said product.

This is when the rules of brick and mortar shopping start to change. You will no longer have to walk to a store, only to find the product not in stock. If you don’t have to walk down to visit a store, you won’t be tempted to pickup a dozen other unrelated items while you window shop your way down the mall. If you don’t buy things you don’t need, the mall loses revenue, and stores close.

Or, this brings more people into the mall, knowing they can find things more easily. Lets not forget Google will be advertising related products from related stores based on your search. This might be the most interesting part - it could be a completely sealed system - only mall stores and merchandise would be listed and used in the Google ads. You search for a reebok hockey bag, which is available at sportchek but Google Ads note a hockey blowout sale is happening at The Bay, where bags start from $39.

Another interesting twist would be to expose that interface to the net, so I can figure out if that $79 reebok hockey bag is carried at, and instock at sportchek before even visiting the Eaton Center. Who wants to go to the mall if you can’t get what you want?

Checkout the review of the Google Kiosk patent details, or the actual application for yourself.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 24th, 2007 at 11:26 am and is filed under usability, technology.