In practice, this could mean you could check what the queues are like at your favourite chain of coffee shops, and it would tell you the fastest place to get your coffee – which could be slightly further away, but with a much reduced waiting time.
舉個例子,去買咖啡前,你可以打開ZipLine查閱咖啡店排隊的實時信息,軟件還會告訴你想盡快買到咖啡該去哪家分店——有時候,你或許得多走幾步路,但卻免了不少排隊時間.
Tim Ensor, head of connected devices at Cambridge Consultants, said: 'In the increasingly competitive retail sector, technology can be a crucial differentiator.
劍橋科技設備連接部主管蒂姆·恩索爾表示："零售商之間的競爭日益激烈,為了吸引客戶,科技或成秘密武器."
'Our ZipLine concept aims to show how taking a service design approach to a problem can give a retailer vital competitive edge by transforming the customer experience.
"Zipline針對現有問題,幫助商家改善服務,提升客戶體驗,增強品牌競爭力.這也是我們設計ZipLine的初衷."
'In this example, we're analysing some complex sensor data – and turning it into intelligent information that can be shared with customers in a simple but meaningful way.
"在打造ZipLine的過程中,我們需要分析各種復雜的感應器數據,并將其轉化為有用的信息,讓客戶能一目了然,心知肚明."
'Yet it has the potential to remove a major source of frustration for shoppers.'
"如此一來,用戶就不必為排隊而發愁了."
Speaking to MailOnline, Mr Ensor said: 'We expect the ZipLine interface will be integrated into the department store's own app.
恩索爾還告訴《每日郵報》網站："我們希望商家能把ZipLine界面納入它們自己的購物應用中."
'That usually means it is free to download.
"也就是說,你可以免費下載,免費使用."
'We're also looking at the option of using Bluetooth beacon technology which could offer the queue length information to consumers on their phone without needing to use an app at all.
"我們也在嘗試使用藍牙發射技術.如此一來,用戶無需打開手機應用,也能收到隊伍的實時信息."
'Most of the premium department stores and shopping malls are already installing equipment in their stores to boost mobile phone signal because this is generally becoming expected by consumers.
"應廣大顧客需要,多數高檔百貨公司與購物商場已紛紛開始安裝手機信號增強器."
'This will also mean that the app will have access to the internet when it needs it to help consumers get the best check-out experience.'
"也就是說,顧客能夠聯網使用ZipLine,決定自己想排的隊伍."
