NEC Australia and GS1 Australia have launched the EPCmagic Mirror after developing the prototype at NEC Australia’s research and development facility in Melbourne.
The mirror uses GS1 Australia’s EPC/RFID technology to display key product information such as available sizes, colours and prices, as well as the most appropriate accessories, as shoppers try on their clothes.
The EPCmagic Mirror is the culmination of a concept promoted by GS1 Australia and six months of development by NEC Australia, combining their RFID, digital signage, LCD and broadband network technology expertise.
The final product is aimed at helping retailers, shop fitters and point-of-sale specialists to provide relevant information to their customers. NEC Australia will also offer ongoing managed services to complement the product and offer tailored specifications.
According to Davide Iacovitti, Product Manager, Applications and Content, NEC Australia, shoppers are bombarded with many advertising messages and information every time they go shopping. GS1 Australia developed a way to provide the information the shoppers need.
Using the EPCmagic Mirror, shoppers will instantly see which sizes and colours are available in their garment, pricing information and tips and advice showing which accessories will go best with what they are wearing.
The EPCmagic Mirror is based on the GS1 EPCglobal standards and features an integrated RFID reader which picks up information from EPC/RFID tags on clothing and uses this information to display the details the store wants shoppers to see.
The technology integrates NEC Australia’s digital signage software, providing retailers with a complete solution to alert shoppers of relevant offers and promotions that cut through the advertising clutter.
NEC Australia and GS1 Australia have launched the EPCmagic Mirror at the Impetus 2008 supply chain conference and expo.
Sue Schmid, GS1 Australia’s General Manager, Standards Development said that the project had demonstrated that the EPC/RFID standards could be leveraged in applications beyond traditional supply chain applications thus providing more value to those wishing to adopt EPC/RFID as a technology.