The Sparrow is a wireless palm-held device (still in prototype stages) featuring a touch sensitive back panel that keeps the screen free for viewing with the other side serving as a bar-code scanner and a credit card processor- among other things- and being a Motorola product, the Sparrow, also serves as a phone.
The Sparrow was given its name because of it's small, fast, and simple design and capabilities. The concept for the Sparrow began in 2006 when Motorola bought Symbol Technologies, a maker of bar-code scanners. At this point Motorola asked New York-based design consultancy Aruliden to help envision how their expertise could help serve the retail sector specifically. Aruliden cofounder, Rinat Aruh, states "The technology was already there- that's the beauty of the device" and the prototype of the Sparrow was developed quickly.
Shane MacGregor, director of advanced industrial design in Motorola's enterprise mobility division, says the Sparrow concept has been presented to potential clients and from which they have gathered feedback about what they'd want in an actual production model. MacGregor expects Sparrows to become popular in retail stores and states that Motorola already has "a couple of projects in the pipeline that will be either evolutions of this [Sparrow] or some derivative."
Such a device can really play a valuable roll in keeping the retail consumer happy. The bar-code scanner allows inventory to be checked immediately while the credit card processing ability allows for transactions to be made right on the sales floor. Such capabilities would allow for better service to the customer as their needs can be met quicker. It is important as a retail major about to step into a job to know what changes and innovations are on the horizon within my industry.
However fabulous it sounds, will the Sparrow really become "Retail's Handheld Powerhouse"? We shall see! I definitely think it has potential.
(article taken from the Next Futurist section of Fast Company: Dec 2008/Jan 2009 edition)
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