7-Eleven Japan trials holographic touch screens for self-checkout
Floating holographic displays will be installed in selected stores of the chain in Tokyo to take touchless services to the next level.
7-Eleven Japan has started a trial for holographic touch screen technology to amp up its self-checkout service. With hygiene as its main motivator, the retailer has installed displays in six different stores in Tokyo to test the technology and project its future for the market.
While there’s still the need to scan each item individually before paying, the Toshiba-developed system, named Digi POS, works without any need of physical contact. Traditional LCD touchscreens have been replaced by the new service, which creates the illusion of a touchscreen interface for the customer while others in line can’t see anything.
As the local news site Nikkei published, the technology is based on hidden sensors to detect the presence and movements of fingers. The user can interact with the holographic screen without actually touching anything. This not only creates a hygienic and safe space for the customer but also protects the hardware from being damaged for long-time exposure to the public.
The system will allow most in-store items to be purchased autonomously while payments will be handled either by touchless payment cards or by mobile-scanning. Products such as alcohol, cigarettes or paying bills will still need a physical cashier to complete the transaction.
