Header Banner
Next Reality Logo
Next Reality
Augmented & Mixed Reality News, Rumors & Dev Guides
nextreality.mark.png
Apple Snap AR Business Google Instagram | Facebook NFT HoloLens Magic Leap Hands-On Smartphone AR The Future of AR Next Reality 30 AR Glossary ARKit Dev 101 What Is AR? Mixed Reality HoloLens Dev 101 Augmented Reality Hololens How-Tos HoloLens v. Magic Leap v. Meta 2 VR v. AR v. MR

Augmented Reality Mirror Patent from Amazon Can Turn Fitting Rooms into Exotic Locales

Jan 3, 2018 07:32 PM
Person holding a smartphone displaying a fashion photo.

In its continued pursuit to elevate retail technology, Amazon has been awarded a patent from the US Patent and Trademark Office for a digital mirror that lets customers virtually try on clothes with different backgrounds.

According to US Patent No. 9858719 (as originally discovered by GeekWire), the system combines a display placed behind a mirror, with the display generating dark and light patterns so that images, such as clothing and backgrounds, are viewable through the mirror.

In addition, projectors would shine on objects in front of the mirror, such as a customer's face, so that they appear reflected in the mirror. In the patent, Amazon calls the concept "blended reality."

Illustration of a person standing in front of a mirror reflecting a beach scene.

Fig. 1A

Augmented Reality Mirror Patent from Amazon Can Turn Fitting Rooms into Exotic Locales

Fig. 1B

Augmented Reality Mirror Patent from Amazon Can Turn Fitting Rooms into Exotic Locales

Fig. 1C

Illustration of a person standing in front of a mirror reflecting a beach scene.

Fig. 1A

Augmented Reality Mirror Patent from Amazon Can Turn Fitting Rooms into Exotic Locales

Fig. 1B

Augmented Reality Mirror Patent from Amazon Can Turn Fitting Rooms into Exotic Locales

Fig. 1C

In recent years, Amazon has crafted an arsenal of cutting edge products and apps that make it easier for its customers to buy more of its products. In November, the company upgraded its Amazon app for iOS with ARKit capabilities, enabling customers to view furniture and other products as the items might appear in their homes.

While the digital mirror looks like it would fit in with Amazon's Echo line, perhaps as a next-generation Echo Show merged with the Echo Look smart camera, it actually makes more sense in its emerging brick-and-mortar retail strategy.

The company already has Whole Foods under its wing and has opened its first Amazon Go concept store in Seattle. In fact, a digital mirror would be ideal in the augmented and virtual reality stores that the company is reported to have under development.

MAC Cosmetics has begun deploying virtual mirrors from Modiface in its stores.

The technology certainly has a place in the retail augmented reality ecosystem, where companies like MAC Cosmetics and Nike have already set the precedent by deploying virtual mirrors for cosmetics and design projectors for sneakers in their respective stores.

However, for the love of Peter Mark Roget, we don't need another term for augmented reality such as "blended reality." After Microsoft muddied the waters with mixed reality, now everyone from Meta to Magic Leap has their own term for augmented reality. We get it, you need to differentiate your offering from the competition. But, just stop, already.

Cover image via Amazon/YouTube

You already know how to use your phone. With Gadget Hacks' newsletter, we'll show you how to master it. Each week, we explore features, hidden tools, and advanced settings that give you more control over iOS and Android than most users even know exists.

Sign up for Gadget Hacks Weekly and start unlocking your phone's full potential.

Related Articles

Comments

No Comments Exist

Be the first, drop a comment!