"Friday, Friday, got to get down on Friday..." — Rebecca Black
As I mentioned yesterday, we've got the day off. Autodesk employees in the United States will get back to responding to your Autodesk Labs feedback on Monday. For many of you, we'll see you at AU in Las Vegas. It's the calm before the storm.
As long as I have the day off, let me talk about an app I wish I had. I don't go to the grocery store often. Sometimes I go to Safeway, but there is a Lucky that is nearest to where I live. So I would say I go to Lucky more than Safeway because I shop based on location. I just want the food. Based on the small quantities I buy, I'm not comparing prices. Since I am an infrequent shopper, I don't always know where items are located. I seem to do OK at Safeway, but at Lucky I am totally lost. So here's the app I want.
- I walk into Lucky.
- I fire up the app on my iPhone.
- The app automatically connects me to Lucky's free WiFi network,
- The app has a search function with a text field.
- I enter "crab boil" and hit the search button.
- The app displays a message "Aisle 5."
If Lucky wants to get fancy with the app, it can display a map based on my location and show the path to Aisle 5. The app could display the day's special or offer coupons. It could do a lot if Lucky wanted to get industrious. There's a new Safeway being built that will be about the same distance away from my house as Lucky, so Lucky's days may be numbered. With an app of this kind, it could perhaps save the store?
Safeway already has an app that helps you locate a store, maintain a grocery list, and see coupons and specials.
I know how to find the store. I need help locating the items once I am in the store. Lucky could set itself apart. I know they have all the data for items they sell and where they are stocked. They just need to share it with the customers.
Work is not alive in the lab today.