Tesco Launches Google Glass App For Hands-Free Shopping

Supermarket giant Tesco has launched an app for Google Glass which uses image-recognition technology to provide shoppers with more information on their purchases.

Created by the company’s in-house Tesco Labs research and development team the Tesco Grocery Glassware app allows shoppers to browse the price of goods, view nutritional information and add items to their shopping basket hands-free.

Users can either scan a product’s barcode for more information or to add to a basket, or perform a voice search before selecting the right product using the Glass headset.

Complimentary

The app links to a shopper’s Tesco.com account, automatically adding products to the customer’s online basket for them, which can then later by reviewed and ordered using a computer, tablet or mobile.

“At Tesco we want to ensure we have the means in place to allow customers to shop whenever and however they want, which is why we’re testing the possibilities of customers topping up their online basket with Glass,” said Pablo Coberly, innovation engineer at Tesco Labs.

“We don’t envisage Glass becoming the new platform for shopping as its functionality is different, and more immediate,” said Coberly. “Instead, it compliments other devices and integrates shopping into everyday life because products can be ordered or added as and when customers realise they need replacing.

“We’ve intentionally kept functionality very basic given the early stages of customer use of Glass. We’re keen to see how customers react to shopping with Glassware and welcome feedback or suggestions from customers using Glass.”

Google Glass users can install Tesco Grocery Glassware through MyGlass on their mobile or on desktop.

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