In which a smartphone is stupid.
Oct. 2nd, 2011 05:42 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
snarpMy grandfather is very, very cautious about spending money. He presently needs to replace his cell phone. We just had this conversation.
Me: Here, Papaw, this is why you need a smartphone. I can take this Google thing and scan in barcodes -
Papaw: And it'll tell you about them?
Me: It's supposed to say how much they cost at other stores, so you don't pay too much. - I need something with a barcode. Okay, here, this lemonade mix.
*I scan the lemonade mix.*
Papaw: *laughs at it*
Google Shopper: *is helpfully displaying a "Decorative Skin Fits Guitar Hero 5 for PS2 PS3 Guitar."
Me: Okay, Papaw, never listen to anything I say. You don't need a smartphone.
-
I then tried it on cooking spray, tissues, an air freshener, a can of oatmeal, an old edition of The Grand Sophy
, a Dresden Files book, and a gallon jug of white vinegar. It recognized the first three, then gave me a bunch of oatmeal-related products and a more recent romance novel
, which I guess means that there are specific barcode ranges for oats and romance.
It recognized Harry Dresden, and even offered to sell me the ebook for $3 more than the paperback cost. The vinegar, though, it thought was a pastoral-themed wall hanging.
Me: Here, Papaw, this is why you need a smartphone. I can take this Google thing and scan in barcodes -
Papaw: And it'll tell you about them?
Me: It's supposed to say how much they cost at other stores, so you don't pay too much. - I need something with a barcode. Okay, here, this lemonade mix.
*I scan the lemonade mix.*
Papaw: *laughs at it*
Google Shopper: *is helpfully displaying a "Decorative Skin Fits Guitar Hero 5 for PS2 PS3 Guitar."
Me: Okay, Papaw, never listen to anything I say. You don't need a smartphone.
-
I then tried it on cooking spray, tissues, an air freshener, a can of oatmeal, an old edition of The Grand Sophy
, a Dresden Files book, and a gallon jug of white vinegar. It recognized the first three, then gave me a bunch of oatmeal-related products and a more recent romance novel, which I guess means that there are specific barcode ranges for oats and romance.It recognized Harry Dresden, and even offered to sell me the ebook for $3 more than the paperback cost. The vinegar, though, it thought was a pastoral-themed wall hanging.
