Apple Patent Could Revolutionize Online Shopping

Apple seems to be creating a new way of interaction with with their online store. Their latest patent filing, titled “Enhancing Online Shopping Atmosphere,” demonstrates Apple’s commitment to revolutionize the online shopping experience.

Although there is no word whether Apple customers would be required to download any software, the concept (US Patent 20080091553) is strikingly similar to Second Life, an Internet-based 3D virtual world.

The patent filing describes visitors “represented by avatars selected by those visitors, rather than a more generic or uniform icon.”

In some situations, visitors and employees would have “nametags” that indicate the type of expertise that they possess. For example, visitors may be encouraged to ask about particular products they are interested in, such as photo software, or jazz music. According to Apple:

…one drawback of online shopping is that the experience can feel sterile and isolating. Customers in such an environment may be less likely to have positive feelings about the online shopping experience, may be less inclined to engage in the online equivalent of window shopping (e.g., will not linger in front of a display), and may ultimately spend less money than their counterparts who shop in physical stores. Therefore, it would be desirable to improve the experience of online shopping.

Customers would be branded with letters to show their rank or level of familiarity with Apple products. For example, a new user would have an “N” superimposed upon him/her, while an expert would be branded with an “E” and a salesperson with an “H” (help). Customers would also be able to see others while they’re browsing and buying:

Other visitors to the site are represented by human shaped icons such as icon 118. Both Alice and one other visitor (118) are currently viewing the main page of the Acme website.

Convenient, isn’t it? But like most Apple patents, whether this patent sees the light of day remains a mistery.