[quote=spdrun]I was at B&H this morning — quite crowded. Do East Coast people still shop more at brick and mortar?
I’m not looking forward to a future of everyone rolling around in self-driving sensory-deprivation bubbles and with most commerce coming from big-box warehouses in flyoveria staffed by robots and/or minimum wagers. People who are yapping about “disrupting the next thing” should really think about the kind of world that they want to live in.
Imagine if technology is used to enhance, rather than disrupt. To use one example: instead of creating an industry manufacturing suits in China using bio-robots paid $1 per hour, selling them online, and shipping them to the consumer, try a different model. You go into a store in suburban Boston, cameras take measurements of your body. A salesman/tailor goes through different options, gives fashion advice, etc. A heavily automated on-site “factory” creates a tailored suit that fits perfectly and is available within 24 hours. Humans make any last-minute alterations, but most of the work is done by machine, and you can get custom, interesting goods for a reasonable price.[/quote]
Another great post, spdrun. FWIW, we still shop at brick-and-mortars whenever possible. We only buy online if it can’t be purchased locally. I don’t understand the desire to paste one’s ass to an office chair all day and never interact with real people, either.
