WASHINGTON, October 2 (RIA Novosti) – A Russian-developed tablet retail device that reads people’s facial expressions and considers shoppers’ moods before it makes purchasing recommendations is poised to enter the US market, the technology news website Mashable reported Wednesday.
The devices, which were developed by Saint Petersburg-based tech firm Synqera, are mounted to kiosks at the entrances of retail stores and scan each shopper’s appearance on the way in, offering advice on what to buy according to the shopper’s mood, the time of day and the season Mashable reported.
A lonely looking individual over the age of 21 on a Friday night may be urged to buy some alcohol, while the machine will wisely keep silent when confronted by an angry person, according to the report.
The devices also scan customer purchases at check-out, accepting various forms of payment and loyalty cards enabling people to pay while also gathering information about their purchasing habits to make recommendations for future visits.
Synqera’s devices are already in use in selected stores of Russian household goods and cosmetics chain Ulybka Radugi, while deals with companies in the United States and Europe are anticipated.
Synqera hopes to have a presence in the clothing and household goods sectors of the United States before 2014, Mashable reported.
