See how fans tested Amazon's cashier-less [computer vision] technology at Climate Pledge Arena

[Hamartia Antidote]

See how fans tested Amazon's cashier-less technology at Climate Pledge Arena (VIDEO)

Thanks to a ground breaking concert and hockey game, Seattleites finally got a taste of Climate Pledge Arena last weekend. Folks got to see

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Thanks to a groundbreaking concert and hockey game, Seattleites finally got a taste of Climate Pledge Arena last weekend. Folks got to see all the hard work that’s gone into creating our city’s newest and maybe coolest events and sports venue. And they also got to test out some of Amazon’s own technology.

Fans buying food and drinks got to experience Amazon’s cashier-less technology. It’s the same technology that’s used in the companies Amazon Go grocery stores. And it’s a technology that will eventually be brought to 2 Whole Foods Markets in Sherman Oaks and Washington DC next year.

If you want to see the technology in action you can watch the video above. The folks at GeekWire signed up for the rather controversial Amazon One palm scanning technology to show us all how it works. They also interviewed fans to see what they thought and the general consensus was that the technology is pretty cool but prices are high ($14 beer, $10 coffee, $7 water, ouch…).

If you’re curious about how the technology works, signing up takes your credit card info and for Amazon One, your palm scan. You’re tracked around the store by cameras after you pick up your food and beverage selection and then you can simply walk out.

It’s bringing the surveillance state to fruition for the sake of convenience but hey, this is Seattle and we wouldn’t expect anything less. We’ll be curious to see if any sneaky Seattleites manage to trick the technology, it’s a feat that might just land them a job in our city’s ever-growing tech sector.

 

[MH.Yang]

At least 4 years ago, around 2017, this technology has been universal in my hometown (Hunan Province, China).

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

At least 4 years ago, around 2017, this technology has been universal in my hometown (Hunan Province, China).

Please explain how it works. This system uses just cameras with no RFID or barcode scanning. It tracks multiple people at once (versus one at a time).

People scan their palm (or phone), run in, grab an item, and run out. It's as simple as that.

Amazon has it in full-sized supermarkets too.

 

[MH.Yang]

Please explain how it works. This system uses just cameras with no RFID or barcode scanning. It tracks multiple people at once (versus one at a time).

People scan their palm, run in, grab an item, and run out. It's as simple as that.

In China, it works like this:
1. Use your mobile phone to scan QR code or Brush face payment. The supermarket opens the gate and you enter the supermarket.
2. Select the goods you want to buy, and then cross the gate to leave the supermarket.
3, the supermarket deducts money directly from your WeChat or Alipay account.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

In China, it works like this:
1. Use your mobile phone to scan QR code or Brush face payment. The supermarket opens the gate and you enter the supermarket.
2. Select the goods you want to buy, and then cross the gate to leave the supermarket.
3, the supermarket deducts money directly from your WeChat or Alipay account.

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Does it use RFID or pure cameras? I know some only allow one person at a time and use RFID.

 

[MH.Yang]

Of course, this kind of supermarket can track many people, otherwise it can't make a profit at all. This kind of supermarket is very common in China, not high-tech. In Zhuzhou, Hunan, there are no less than 10 companies operating chain unmanned supermarkets.

Does it use RFID or pure cameras? I know some only allow one person at a time and use RFID.

In China, unmanned supermarkets generally only support two payment methods. 1. Use face recognition system and brush face payment. 2. Scan QR code with mobile phone.

In China, ID number, mobile phone number, WeChat number and facial information are all real name systems, and these data are bound to each other.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

Of course, this kind of supermarket can track many people, otherwise it can't make a profit at all. This kind of supermarket is very common in China, not high-tech. In Zhuzhou, Hunan, there are no less than 10 companies operating chain unmanned supermarkets.

View attachment 792607
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The first pic is BingoBox. Which is not very advanced at all

 

[MH.Yang]

The first pic is BingBox. Which is not very advanced at all

Did you notice that this video was released in 2017, which should be the earliest unmanned supermarket. It's 2021. Now the supermarket is bigger and supports brush face payment. Now supermarkets can leave directly with goods without self checkout.



In addition, the man is shopping. You should see that another person is shooting the video. Even the earliest unmanned supermarkets allowed many people to shop.

 

[MH.Yang]

The first pic is BingoBox. Which is not very advanced at all

Watch this video. An American tried to steal goods from an unmanned supermarket in China. He adopted the methods of eating secretly, hiding.etc but all failed. And he couldn't even find the supermarket camera:

The American put back his finish drink and was deducted. Put back the drinks him haven't drunk and don't deduct the money. Goods hidden in clothes are deducted. He took a hot coffee but didn't drink it, and he didn't deduct money. He directly throw the goods out of the supermarket and be deducted. After he walked out of the supermarket, he got the bill in less than 10 seconds.

This is the technology of China's unmanned supermarket in 2021. Who is better than the unmanned supermarket, USA or China?

 

[FairAndUnbiased]

I don't even trust self checkout machines because they are often bugged and require cashier assistance.

An unmanned store in the US is dangerous. You can be robbed any time. A conventional store is much safer due to armed security guards.

 

[MH.Yang]

I don't even trust self checkout machines because they are often bugged and require cashier assistance.

An unmanned store in the US is dangerous. You can be robbed any time. A conventional store is much safer due to armed security guards.

In China, theft and robbery are completely different crimes.

Larceny is a misdemeanor. The amount of theft is less than 78k US dollars, it is usually sentenced to 3 years' imprisonment. Less than $15k is usually detained for only 15 days. But because Chinese people usually don't carry cash, there are few pickpockets.

Robbery is a felony. Even if you rob only 1 cent, you will be sentenced to 7 years' imprisonment, up to the death penalty. Moreover, group robbery (3 or more people belong to a group), home robbery, multiple robberies (more than 3 times), robbery in public places, robbery of special substances (military substances, disaster relief materials, etc.), robbery of the elderly&children&pregnant women, etc will lead to increased punishment. In theory, even if you rob only 1 cent, you may be sentenced to death.

Therefore, there are few robbers in China. Criminals prefer to steal.

 

[FairAndUnbiased]

In China, theft and robbery are completely different crimes.

Larceny is a misdemeanor. The amount of theft is less than 78k US dollars, it is usually sentenced to 3 years' imprisonment. Less than $15k is usually detained for only 15 days. But because Chinese people usually don't carry cash, there are few pickpockets.

Robbery is a felony. Even if you rob only 1 cent, you will be sentenced to 7 years' imprisonment, up to the death penalty. Moreover, group robbery (3 or more people belong to a group), home robbery, multiple robberies (more than 3 times), robbery in public places, robbery of special substances (military substances, disaster relief materials, etc.), robbery of the elderly&children&pregnant women, etc will lead to increased punishment. In theory, even if you rob only 1 cent, you may be sentenced to death.

Therefore, there are few robbers in China. Criminals prefer to steal.

In some states in the US stealing up to 950 USD is no longer a crime.

Here robbers can get as low as 1 year imprisonment which is why you cannot rely entirely on the courts to keep them out of the streets, you can only rely on police and guards.

Yet even with police and guards there are problems. They serve as deterrence but there are still crimes. Crime solve rates are declining even as technology improves.

 

[King Julien]

Of course, this kind of supermarket can track many people, otherwise it can't make a profit at all. This kind of supermarket is very common in China, not high-tech. In Zhuzhou, Hunan, there are no less than 10 companies operating chain unmanned supermarkets.

View attachment 792607
View attachment 792608

In China, unmanned supermarkets generally only support two payment methods. 1. Use face recognition system and brush face payment. 2. Scan QR code with mobile phone.

In China, ID number, mobile phone number, WeChat number and facial information are all real name systems, and these data are bound to each other.

So do you guys you's cash? Like physical currency.. seems impossible that this is throughout china?

 

[MH.Yang]

In some states in the US stealing up to 950 USD is no longer a crime.

Here robbers can get as low as 1 year imprisonment which is why you cannot rely entirely on the courts to keep them out of the streets, you can only rely on police and guards.

Yet even with police and guards there are problems. They serve as deterrence but there are still crimes. Crime solve rates are declining even as technology improves.

The building in the picture is called "驿站." It is the public toilets next to urban roads in China. It has the functions of accommodating patients with Alzheimer disease and lost children. There are free WiFi, 24-hour air conditioning or heating, hot water, bathroom, mobile library and so on.

And the building in the picture is called "救助站(Rescue station)."

If someone needs help, you can contact the rescue station through "驿站" near the road. The rescue station will provide a small amount of cash (usually 600CNY, about $100) and a free train ticket back to your hometown. The aid station can also provide free accommodation and food for up to one month. So it's hard for you to find tramps in China, and few people commit crimes for hundreds of dollars.
Of course, don't try to cheat money through the rescue station. When you use the free video of "驿站" to contact the rescue station, they can know all your information, and they can accurately judge whether you really need help.

So do you guys you's cash? Like physical currency.. seems impossible that this is throughout china?

China certainly has cash. But carrying cash is very troublesome, most people usually don't carry cash and only carry mobile phones. In China's border provinces, if someone uses a lot of cash, they may be suspected of being stowaways.

 

[FairAndUnbiased]

So do you guys you's cash? Like physical currency.. seems impossible that this is throughout china?

The last time I went back to China I had a hard time due to everything being cashless.

The building in the picture is called "驿站." It is the public toilets next to urban roads in China. It has the functions of accommodating patients with Alzheimer disease and lost children. There are free WiFi, 24-hour air conditioning or heating, hot water, bathroom, mobile library and so on.
View attachment 792634
View attachment 792635
And the building in the picture is called "救助站(Rescue station)."
View attachment 792636

If someone needs help, you can contact the rescue station through "驿站" near the road. The rescue station will provide a small amount of cash (usually 600CNY, about $100) and a free train ticket back to your hometown. The aid station can also provide free accommodation and food for up to one month. So it's hard for you to find tramps in China, and few people commit crimes for hundreds of dollars.

China certainly has cash. But carrying cash is very troublesome, most people usually don't carry cash and only carry mobile phones. In China's border provinces, if someone uses a lot of cash, they may be suspected of being stowaways.

A society is judged not by how luxurious the rich and powerful live, but by how much dignity the lowest and poorest have.