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 System You’re Inside (And Why You Can’t See It)

The System You’re Inside (And Why You Can’t See It)

Most people believe they are making independent decisions. In reality, they are responding to systems they cannot see. From algorithms to economic structures to social norms, the real driver of behaviour is rarely the individual—it’s the environment shaping what feels possible, reasonable, or true.