Starting this week, six 7-11 stores in Tokyo are trialing a new form of self-checkout machine: An "aerial display," i.e. a holographic image that behaves like a conventional touchscreen—that you don't actually touch. Instead, you bring your finger over to where your eye perceives a button, and sensors register a button press.

The Digi POS system, as it's called, was developed by Toshiba Tech Co. They refer to the system as an aerial display:

"In general, aerial displays are mainly used for hotel and office building reception areas, as digital signage, etc., but this is the world's first trial with aerial display cash registers," the company writes. "With this technology, we have realized a cash register screen that appears to be floating in the air, yet can be operated in the same way as a touchscreen."

To those standing off to the side, the user appears to be poking empty space:

From the user's POV, of course, the screen is visible:

Here's what it looks like in action:

The point of the technology, the company says, is to "create sales opportunities by saving space at the cashier counter, and to provide safety and security through complete non-contact."

An editor should know that "trialing" is not a word. 

I’m a lapsed industrial designer. I was born in NYC and figured I’d die there, but a few years ago I abandoned New York to live on a farm in the countryside with my wife. We have six dogs.

Test it out; it only takes a single click to unsubscribe

Don't have an account? Join Now

Already have an account? Sign In

By creating a Core77 account you confirm that you accept the Terms of Use

Please enter your email and we will send an email to reset your password.

Test it out; it only takes a single click to unsubscribe