Online shopping works well for the important items: gadgets, games,
music and film. Every now and then, however, a loved one gently reminds
us that our wardrobe could do with a refresh and this is where online
shopping falls short. For the chic geek (or yours truly, the strangely
proportioned geek), attempting to determine whether an item of clothing
will actually fit based on vague labels like "small", "medium" or
"large" just won't cut it.
Short of biting the bullet and heading to the high street, online
fashion store Tobi has developed the next best thing: augmented reality
clothes shopping. Dubbed Fashionista,
the Flash app utilises the viewer's webcam, symbol recognition software
and a movement-based interface to enable the viewer to "try on" clothes
from the comfort of the bedroom. Or an internet cafe. Take this
journalist's recommendation though: only the thick skinned or
extroverted should try it in the office.
Here's how Tobi's virtual change room works. First print out a
special symbol, then position yourself appropriately in front of the
webcam. Use the familiar EyeToy-like gestural interface to cycle
through items of clothing until you find something you like, then hold
the printed AR symbol in front of you - the clothing will be
superimposed on your body. Move the symbol backwards and forwards to
change the clothing's size, or rotate the symbol to angle the item so
it sits on your body just so.
Tobi has made a concerted effort to duplicate as much of the bricks
and mortar shopping experience as possible: items you like can be saved
for later, clothing is automatically suggested based on other items you
like, and you can post a photo of yourself wearing the virtual clothing
to Facebook.
Unfortunately, the interface has been designed so that you must be
facing the webcam for the setup to work correctly, which means your
Facebook friends will be unable to comment when you post an image with
the caption: "Does my bum look big in this?"
Fashionista is a simple application of Augmented Reality that has
been done many times before, but it's the first time we've seen AR
symbol recognition used in a context that wasn't a cringe-worthy
gimmick. Online clothes shopping is a market that could get a massive
boost from this virtual extrusion, and it will be interesting to see if
the concept spreads.
Let's just hope Speedo doesn't adopt the technology - Facebook will never be the same again.
