"Magic Mirror" ...Week 4

Shopping has normally been a very social activity. Girls love to try on clothes and get their friend's opinions. But every once in awhile, someone has to shop by themself and alas, it can become a crisis. Without a friend's opinion on a dress or a swimsuit, how will we know which style to go with or what color to choose?

I came across an article on CNNmoney.com about a new invention that can aid us in this problem. A digital technology developer from New York, IconNicholson, was developing a dressing room product called the "Magic Mirror." Basically it is a full length mirror with two cameras. The shopper tries on an outfit, stands in front of the mirror, and uses their cell phone's camera to "transfer an image to a Web site where family and friends can see them model different outfits." The mirror is interactive and displays text messages and replies to the different outfits, as well as new suggestions. Joseph Olewitz, the senior vice president of IconNicholson's client relations, says, "The real innovation here is social retailing. We're bringing together the entire universe of networking concepts through the use of the Internet, the webcam, the webcast to enable shoppers to interact with their friends.

Social networking is seeping into every aspect of our lives. The more connected people are to others, the more they feel a part of something. Now shopping has even become a tool for social media to invade. Cameras, text messaging, and interactive Web sites in a dressing room! It is everywhere. Supposedly these "Magic Mirrors" were supposed to hit the major retail stores about a year ago. I haven't seen them yet, but then again, I live in Ohio. Maybe the idea of social networking in a store dressing room was a little too much, a little too soon...