It was perhaps only a matter of time but its surprising that Toshiba’s new object recognition scanner hasn’t created more of a fuss.  Basically what it does is dispense with the need for barcodes as it can recognise products from their colour, shape, labelling etc.  Its being trialled by a supermarket in Japan and shows lots of potential.  The really interesting extension of this technology is what could be done with it in smartphones, Google goggles and other AR applications.

The Last Ten Minutes of Luxury

The Last Ten Minutes of Luxury

Guests pay for days yet remember minutes. The peak end rule explains why a stay often lives or dies on one high moment and the day of departure. What works, what fails, and how to design the arc so memory carries your brand home.

Airport Retail and the Psychology of Stress: What Makes Travellers Spend?

Airport Retail and the Psychology of Stress: What Makes Travellers Spend?

That overpriced chocolate bar at Gate 14 wasn’t about hunger—it was about control. In this in-depth essay, we explore how Mood Repair Theory explains airport retail behaviour, especially in high-stress domestic terminals, and what airports can learn from global best practice to meet travellers’ emotional needs.