Many online e-tailers have started showing 3-D representations of their product that you can move to get views from every angle. Retailer have mannequins to show their shoppers how an outfit looks when it is worn. Both of these are good but neither one show how an outfit looks during everyday activity. Of course you can go to a fashion were you can actually see how an outfit looks as the models walk down the catwalk but that still has some drawbacks.
One company in Japan came up with a better way that let's you see how an outfit will look as you go through your day activities. It is called Marionettebot and uses Redmond-based Microsoft's Kinect to animate their display mannequins to move the way you move. The Marionettebot was created by attaching one end of a series of 16 wires to a jointed-mannequin, running those strings through pulleys and attaching the other ends to the Kinect system. The customers can then stand in front of the motion cameras and manipulate the mannequin to move along with them.
“I found it funny… during the illustration of the mannequin and the human, I was thinking, if they use it to lure you to go into the story and buy clothes, who’s really the marionette here?” — darkerforest
Since inventing the Marionettebot and using it as a window display the United Arrow company of Tokyo, Japan has seen a 130% increase in sales. Seeing an increase like this will probably have more of these Marionettebots popping up in the front display windows of more retail companies around the world.
For more on the Marionettebot you might try the following articles and videos:
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http://www.geekwire.com/2013/tokyo-retailer-kinect-turn-mannequins-marionettes/
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http://www.ubergizmo.com/2013/02/marionettebot-brings-window-shopping-to-a-whole-new-level/
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http://www.amusement.net/2013/02/18/new-window-display-idea-marionettebot/
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