Webcams are fitted to rails along the top of each aisle, angled down to look at the side of the opposite aisle.
Users can connect to the location's website and access a specific camera, then track it along the shelf to see if they have specific products in stock. Pan and tilt might be included.
To avoid privacy issues, anything with a surface temperature above 25C is "greyed out", thus physical customers in the store just appear as grey blobs.
The system operates 24/7, thus acting as an additional deterrent to thieves.-- 8th of 7, Jun 16 2011 How not to see Ed Milliband http://classics.mit...hocles/oedipus.htmlA tragic end, to a loyal son. [mouseposture, Jun 17 2011] Here it is. http://lakecam.engr...ew/indexFrame.shtmlYou are now controlling a security camera over the internet. [DIYMatt, Jun 18 2011] How about using store's inventory database ?-- VJW, Jun 16 2011 If the store's inventory database computer were in the middle of the aisle, this could work; you'd move the camera so as to be facing the computer.-- phundug, Jun 16 2011 //anything with a surface temperature above 25C is "greyed out",//
So, not very handy for hot-case items, then?-- gisho, Jun 16 2011 Privacy? Webcams are supposed to be income generators.
Guys will pay a reasonable sum to use the camera in the cold foods aisles.-- normzone, Jun 16 2011 // store's inventory database ? //
Too easy for competitors to go data mining. At least this way it would keep kids in the third world in paid employment.-- 8th of 7, Jun 16 2011 // physical customers in the store just appear as grey blobs //
That's pretty much the case for me already.
But how are you going to implement that cheaply?
And why bother? Actual physical customers can already see the other people that are in the store, so it isn't like an invasion of privacy (if you announce the cameras are there, of course).-- baconbrain, Jun 16 2011 Coming soon to a theater near you: In an abandoned ex-soviet CBW lab, the virus is growing, growing. One day soon, a local teenager, more reckless than the rest will pry open the rusted hatch, releasing the scorge which ends human civilization, turning everyone into grey blobs. Only [baconbrain], thanks to an incredibly rare genetic anomaly, is immune. And unaware of the catastrophe.
In the produce aisle, [baconbrain] encounters the only other human being with the rare genetic anomaly, who also happens to be incredibly attractive, and a member of the appropriate sex (or the inappropriate sex -- whatever floats your boat). Tragically, to [baconbrain], just another grey blob.-- mouseposture, Jun 17 2011 Sadly, everyone else continues to see Ed Miliband ...-- 8th of 7, Jun 17 2011 There used to be a way you could actually do this. Ill try to find it when I get home.-- DIYMatt, Jun 17 2011 If you know way of not seeing Ed Miliband, millions of people will acclaim you as a God.-- 8th of 7, Jun 17 2011 [8th} Here's how to do it: <link>-- mouseposture, Jun 17 2011 random, halfbakery