The Cash Register You Knew was Coming

Intelligent Cash Registers. Duh. They remember who you are, they know your “interests.” They know you! Intel is going to unveil this prototype “register” at the National Retail Federation show in New York on Sunday, but they’re really pushing the system, not the hardware. (Although, they do mention the fact that the hardware will use 90 percent less power than modern check-outs. Nothing to scoff at.)

Intel teams with Frog Design for this project. Frog is responsible for the hardware: making this 3-touchscreen terminal work with Intel’s newest processors. The touchscreen works in concert with RFID cards and salespeople (to talk you up on more products the screen shows to be juicy.) The idea is to take the internet’s ability to “up-sell” and apply that to everyday impulse buying. Fun, huh?

The best part, (or -only actual good part, for you hippies,) is that these machines fall back asleep when they aren’t active. This accounts for most of the 90-percent less energy spent. And as Wired mentions: “for a retail chain with 5,000 terminals, that’s a serious rebate.”

Designer: Intel Corp and Frog Design