基于物联网的超市智能自助购物系统设计

针对传统超市购物存在导购困难、结算缓慢、用户体验性差等问题,提出了一种基于物联网的智能超市自助购物系统方案。系统主要采用RFID技术、无线网络通信、微信小程序以及动态网站开发等技术来实现。安装在购物车中的RFID获取商品标签信息,通过无线通信与远程云服务器进行数据交互。购物者通过移动终端的微信小程序从服务器端实时获取导购信息和购物车中的商品详细消费清单,通过电子支付快捷结算,无需排队。商家可通过后台管理网站进行商品管理和发布促销活动。该系统不仅提高了顾客的购物效率、增添了购物乐趣,同时也使得商家管理更加便利和高效。     

An integrated decision-making method for product design scheme evaluation based on cloud model and EEG data

Selecting the optimal design scheme is a vital task in the product design area. It not only improves the performance of the product, but also leads to the greatest satisfaction of customers. However, existing methods express qualitative evaluation information roughly, and none of them has taken the implicit psychological states of customers into consideration. Therefore, an integrated decision-making method for product design scheme evaluation is proposed. This method applies the cloud model to facilitate the evaluation process of experts and uses the EEG data to reveal the psychological states of customers. Benefit from the probability theory and fuzzy set theory, the cloud model deals with the fuzziness and randomness simultaneously. It can decrease the cognitive discrepancy of experts and allow the information distortion to be neutralized to a great extent. Since the experts are not the final users of products, the evaluation results from experts cannot truly reflect the psychological states of customers when they use the product. An experiment is designed to collect the EEG data which can reveal the implicit psychological states of customers. The recorded data are segmented based on the operation process and tagged with the self-reported psychological states. Subsequently, the wavelet packet decomposition is applied and the sample entropy of each EEG frequency band is extracted as the feature. Taking advantage of the random forest classifier, the psychological states of customers can be classified with the average accuracy of 90.76%. This study can lead to a practical system for automatic assessment of psychological states in future applications. The evaluation process of elevator design schemes is conducted as a case study to illustrate the feasibility of the proposed method.     

基于改进A*算法的导购路径规划方法

大型超市内商品数目繁多，空间环境复杂，顾客在购物的过程中往往需要耗费大量的时间来寻找所需购买的商品。针对这一问题，提出了遗传-改进A*算法来帮助顾客找到一条通往所需购买商品的最短路径。首先利用矩阵对超市的空间环境进行建模，然后通过改进A*算法找到任意两个商品之间的最短路径，再根据顾客的购物列表利用遗传算法优化生成一条包含超市入口，购物列表上的商品以及超市出口的最短路径。最后仿真实验表明，在多楼层的大型超市里，顾客购买多个不同商品时，遗传-改进A*算法寻优能力更强，求解质量更优，并且运行时间更短，能够高效地解决最短路径规划问题。     

Enabling RFID in retail

The past two years have witnessed an explosion of interest in radio-frequency identification and supporting technologies, due primarily to their rapidly expanding use in tracking grocery products through the supply chain. Currently such applications monitor store-keeping units (SKUs) rather than individual goods, as the relatively high cost of RFID deployment and the very low profit margin of supermarket products make item-level tagging impractical. Yet, economic and technical concerns aside, it is easy to envision a supermarket in which each item is tagged with an RFID label and all shopping carts feature RFID readers. The carts could potentially include onboard computers that recognize products placed inside and that display information and promotions retrieved wirelessly from the system back end. RFID-enabled smart phones, which are commercially available today and becoming increasingly popular, could carry out the same function. Item-level deployment of RFID technology would also allow for quick checkout aisles that scan all products at once and thus eliminate queues, which are consistently reported as one of the most negative aspects of supermarket shopping. A simple extension of this system would be to embed RFID devices in consumers' loyalty or frequent-shopper cards to identify individuals. This could expedite system login and charge the shopping cost directly to the customer's account at the point of sale-unless removed at the POS, item-level tags will inevitably follow the consumer home. This scenario undoubtedly raises numerous privacy concerns.     

Decision-making in the aisles: informing, overwhelming or nudging supermarket shoppers?

Recent findings suggest that while shopping people apply ‘fast and frugal’ heuristics: short-cut strategies where they ignore most product information and instead focus on a few key cues. But rather than supporting this practice, mobile phone shopping apps and recommender systems overwhelm shoppers with information. This paper examines the amount and structure of product information that is most appropriate for supermarket shoppers, finding that in supermarkets, people rapidly make decisions based on one or two product factors for routine purchases, often trading-off between price and health. For one-off purchases, shoppers can be influenced by reading customer star ratings and reviews on a mobile phone app. In order to inform decision-making or nudge shoppers in supermarkets, we propose using embedded technologies that provide appropriate feedback and make key information salient. We conclude that rather than overwhelming shoppers, future shopping technology design needs to focus on information frugality and simplicity.     

Will you spend more money and time on internet shopping when the product and situation are right?

Different from past online shopping research which focuses on exploring the cognitive and attitudinal aspects of online consumption behaviors, this study focuses on examining how online shopping motivation and product type affect the searching and spending behavior in an online website. In particular, the interactive effect between online shopping motivation and product type are explored in the study. A 2 × 2 between-subjects factorial experiment with two shopping motivations (i.e., goal-oriented and experiential) and two product types (i.e., hedonic and utilitarian product) was conducted. In addition to the main effects of online shopping motivation and product type, the results show that there is an interactive effect between online shopping motivation and product type on budget control. Participants conducted the loosest budget control when purchasing hedonic products in a goal-oriented online shopping trip because the shopping motivation provides a good justification for online shoppers to purchase hedonic goods without guilt or regret.     

Using an Eye-Tracking Approach to Explore Gender Differences in Visual Attention and Shopping Attitudes in an Online Shopping Environment

Growth in online marketing has been unprecedented, and mainstream shopping is shifting from traditional stores to online shopping channels. However, many aspects of online consumer behavior remain unaddressed. In particular, the effects of gender differences in visual attention on shopping attitudes are a great challenge in online retailers’ attempts to understand consumers’ cognitive processing and strategies. This study was designed to investigate the effects of gender on visual attention to online shopping information and its influence on attitudes about the products displayed. Using an eye-tracking approach, the results identified significant gender differences in visual attention to online shopping information and shopping attitudes about the products presented. Female participants attended visually to most of the online shopping information areas to a greater degree than did males, and their attitudes about products were influenced to some degree by visual attention to the consumer opinion areas. Although males’ visual attention was lower than females’, their shopping attitudes were influenced extensively by visual attention to product information and consumer opinion areas.     

Different Phases in a Supermarket Chain Network: An Application of an Ising Model on Soap Froth

The competition and cooperation between two supermarket chains in a given two-dimensional point pattern is investigated in the framework of a Multi-Agent System. Each point represents a shopping mall, which can contain only one of the two supermarket chains. The point can be associated with a cell via a Voronoi contruction, with the cell representing the domain of a customer base associated with the shopping mall. For scientific reference, we employ soap froth, a standard physical system that possessesscaling property in the steady state as our given two-dimensional cellular network. The area and perimeter of the cell are related to the preference of the customers based on the geometric location of the shopping malls. The color of the cell denotes the choice of the supermarket chain, while the competition and cooperation between the two chains are manifest in the evolution of the color on the static cellular network. This problem of color evolution corresponds to the statistical mechanics of an Ising model defined on a given point pattern and we explore the phases of this model by Monte Carlo simulation. We find evidence of two distinct phases: a random phase and a cluster phase. Verification of the phases and their interpretations are made using an analysis of the interior bubble distribution function.     

基于遗传算法的超市最短导购路径推荐

大型超市里商品数目的繁多、空间布局的复杂往往容易让消费者迷失在室内,花费大量时间进行商品搜寻。提出基于遗传算法的超市导购路径推荐方法,通过对超市的空间布局结构离散化建模,生成分别用节点和无向边表示商品区域和区域之间可行走路线的平面图;结合消费者的采购清单,根据商品所在的货架位置将商品与具体的区域做出匹配,用遗传算法优化生成一条联结超市入口、要采购的商品区域以及结账柜台的最短路线。Matlab的仿真结果显示,该方法简单、高效,能够快速为消费者推荐出最短路线,供其购物参考。     

基于商品引力的购物信息可视化系统

互联网的快速发展带动了人们的购物行为, 越来越多的人群习惯于进行网购, 随之产生的是各种各样的网购交易数据, 这些数据复杂、多维, 并且具有时序性, 消费者的购买行为是众多电商及分析人员的研究热点. 本文提出了一种以个体为中心, 基于商品引力对商品层级结构数据与消费者的购物行为特征的可视分析方法, 使分析者更方便地观察每位消费者的消费行为, 从而得到他们的购物特点. 最后, 给出实验结果, 证明方法的有效性.     

Agent based intelligent search framework for product information using ontology mapping

The Semantic Web and Web services provide many opportunities in various applications such as product search and comparison in electronic commerce. We implemented an intelligent meta-search and recommendation system for products through consideration of multiple attributes by using ontology mapping and Web services. Under the assumption that each shopping site offers product ontology and product search service with Web services, we proposed a meta-search framework to configure a customer’s search intent, make and dispatch proper queries to each shopping site, evaluate search results from shopping sites, and show the customer the relevant product list with associated rankings. Ontology mapping is used for generating proper queries for shopping sites that have different product categories. We also implemented our framework and performed empirical evaluation of our approach with two leading shopping sites in the world.     

Quantitative methods for detecting cerebral infarction from multiple channel EEG recordings

EEG has been known to be non-stationary and time varying. Time–frequency representation (TFR) is a proper tool for such non-stationary signals. In the present paper, TFR-based quantitative methods that can translate complicated and subjective waveform-based EEG analysis into objective measures are introduced to characterize EEG recorded from normal subjects and cerebral infarction (CI) patients. Relative frequency band energy (RFBE) is computed from time–frequency plane for the five subbands: delta, theta, alpha, beta and gamma. Moreover, we propose the Shannon entropy (SE) of TFR to detect the difference in EEG for the two kinds of subjects. Finally, the temporal evolutions of these quantitative parameters are presented to trace EEG changes. The experiment results show that CI results in the RFBE changes of the five rhythms; however, the RFBEs of some rhythms have stronger association with CI. Increase in EEG SE of CI patients is obvious. The time evolutions of RFBE and SE as valuable objective measures can be displayed in real time and be used as helpful references in detection and monitoring of CI.     

Human interaction with robotic systems: performance and workload evaluations

Abstract

We first tested the effect of differing tactile informational forms (i.e. directional cues vs. static cues vs. dynamic cues) on objective performance and perceived workload in a collaborative human–robot task. A second experiment evaluated the influence of task load and informational message type (i.e. single words vs. grouped phrases) on that same collaborative task. In both experiments, the relationship of personal characteristics (attentional control and spatial ability) to performance and workload was also measured. In addition to objective performance and self-report of cognitive load, we evaluated different physiological responses in each experiment. Results showed a performance–workload association for directional cues, message type and task load. EEG measures however, proved generally insensitive to such task load manipulations. Where significant EEG effects were observed, right hemisphere amplitude differences predominated, although unexpectedly these latter relationships were negative. Although EEG measures were partially associated with performance, they appear to possess limited utility as measures of workload in association with tactile displays.

Practitioner Summary: As practitioners look to take advantage of innovative tactile displays in complex operational realms like human–robotic interaction, associated performance effects are mediated by cognitive workload. Despite some patterns of association, reliable reflections of operator state can be difficult to discern and employ as the number, complexity and sophistication of these respective measures themselves increase.     

基于视景仿真的3D购物系统

目前大多数的购物网站均呈现千篇一律的方式,无法像现实超市那样给消费者提供一种购物环境,实现文化、心理上的满足和享受．为了弥补以上缺陷,我们考虑将目前最先进的视景仿真技术和信息管理技术融合在一起。基于OSG技术构建3D商业环境及视景漫游、完成基于3D图形界面的购物操作流程．     

基于AnyLogic的收银服务效率优化研究

以现实生活中超市收银台服务流程为例,基于排队论理论构建超市收银服务效率一般模型。从顾客购物量差异性视角出发,构建超市收银服务效率改进模型,并运用AnyLogic软件进行仿真。研究结果表明,在随机情况下或者其他因素降低了收银效率的情况下,改进模型都可以提高超市收银系统效率。基于顾客需求差别对顾客分别提供专用收银服务窗口可以提高服务效率。     

Tactile displays: guidance for their design and application

OBJECTIVE: This article provides an overview of tactile displays. Its goal is to assist human factors practitioners in deciding when and how to employ the sense of touch for the purpose of information representation. The article also identifies important research needs in this area. BACKGROUND: First attempts to utilize the sense of touch as a medium for communication date back to the late 1950s. For the next 35 years progress in this area was relatively slow, but recent years have seen a surge in the interest and development of tactile displays and the integration of tactile signals in multimodal interfaces. A thorough understanding of the properties of this sensory channel and its interaction with other modalities is needed to ensure the effective and robust use of tactile displays. METHODS: First, an overview of vibrotactile perception is provided. Next, the design of tactile displays is discussed with respect to available technologies. The potential benefit of including tactile cues in multimodal interfaces is discussed. Finally, research needs in the area of tactile information presentation are highlighted. RESULTS: This review provides human factors researchers and interface designers with the requisite knowledge for creating effective tactile interfaces. It describes both potential benefits and limitations of this approach to information presentation. CONCLUSION: The sense of touch represents a promising means of supporting communication and coordination in human-human and human-machine systems. APPLICATION: Tactile interfaces can support numerous functions, including spatial orientation and guidance, attention management, and sensory substitution, in a wide range of domains.     

EEG-based approach for recognizing human social emotion perception

Social emotion perception plays an important role in our daily social interactions and is involved in the treatments for mental disorders. Hyper-scanning technique enables to measure brain activities simultaneously from two or more persons, which was employed in this study to explore social emotion perception. We analyzed the recorded electroencephalogram (EEG) to explore emotion perception in terms of event related potential (ERP) and phase synchronization, and classified emotion categories based on convolutional neural network (CNN). The results showed that (1) ERP was significantly different among four emotion categories (i.e., anger, disgust, neutral, and happy), but there was no significant difference for ERP in the comparison of rating orders (the order of rating actions of the paired participants); (2) the intra-brain phase lag index (PLI) was higher than the inter-brain PLI but its number of connections exhibiting significant difference was less in all typical frequency bands (from delta to gamma); (3) the emotion classification accuracy of inter-PLI-Conv outperformed that of intra-PLI-Conv for all cases of using each frequency band (five frequency bands totally). In particular, the classification accuracies averaged across all participants in the alpha band were 65.55% and 50.77% (much higher than the chance level) for the inter-PLI-Conv and intra-PLI-Conv, respectively. According to our results, the emotion category of happiness can be classified with a higher performance compared to the other categories.     

Profiling users by online shopping behaviors

Online shopping has been prevalent in our daily life. Profiling users and understanding their browsing behaviors are critical for enhancing shopping experience and maximizing sales revenue. In this paper, based on a one-month dataset recording 2 million users’ 67 million online shopping and browsing logs, we seek to understand how users browse and shop products, and how distinct these behaviors are. We find that there exist dedicate groups of users that prefer certain product categories corresponding to similar demands. Moreover, distinct differences of behaviors exist in categories, where repetitive and targeted browsing are two major prevalent patterns.     

基于同步EEG-fMRI采集的情绪认知重评数据特征融合分析研究

脑电(Electroencephalography, EEG)与功能磁共振成像(Functional magnetic resonance imaging, fMRI)为脑科学研究提供了互补的时空信息. 为研究大脑在对情绪图片采取认知重评策略时的神经活动, 基于同步采集的EEG-fMRI数据, 应用典型相关分析、经验模态分解及k-均值聚类等算法对融合情绪数据进行交叉关联和盲源分离, 得到空间上的fMRI图像和与之对应的EEG时间演变信号. 结果表明: 时域上, CCA分离出的脑电成分在认知重评状态下有明显的晚期正电位(Late positive potential, LPP) (潜伏期200ms～900ms)出现, 而且认知重评策略诱发下的LPP 波幅明显小于观看负性诱发的LPP波幅(F(1, 224)= 28.72, P<0.01), 而大于观看中性诱发的LPP波幅(F(1, 224)= 63.32, P<0.01); 与之对应的空域上, 可以明显地看出和情绪调节相关的扣带回, 额叶、颞叶等区域有明显激活区, 采用情绪认知重评策略时的脑区激活强度明显小于观看负性状态, 而大于观看中性, 且观看中性状态下被激活的与情绪相关的区域相对较少. 研究表明, 这种融合数据分析技术通过计算两种模态数据之间潜在的线性相关性, 可以有效地分离出大脑在时空上神经活动情况, 达到了同时描绘出大脑神经活动的时间信息与空间信息的效果.     

The beta test of an electronic supermarket

This paper presents findings of a beta test of an electronic supermarket. It first reports qualitative information elicited during interviews and focus groups conducted with the beta test user group. A total of 57 users who had tested the system participated in the qualitative component of the study. Interviews and focus groups addressed what the users considered the best and worst features of the system and what things they would do differently if they were the management of the electronic supermarket. Results generated a number of suggestions for improvement and concerns. Interestingly, it became apparent that the electronic supermarket, rather than being considered an impersonal form of shopping, was considered a very personalized form of shopping, akin to the corner grocery market. The paper then reports the results of a quantitative survey that aimed to predict intentions to use the electronic supermarket are reported. Construct measurement was loosely based on the technology acceptance model, a derivative of the theory of reasoned action, and further supplemented by industry specific relevant constructs. Constructs tapped, therefore, consisted of perceived usefulness, enjoyment, peer-group norms, usability and perceptions of the electronic shopping experience. Biographical and situational data were also recorded. Analysis was conducted on 64 completed questionnaires. Results indicated a high level of intention to use the system in the future. Not surprisingly, many of the hypothesised predictors of intention to use the system were inter-correlated. Multivariate regression analyses revealed, however, that two variables contributed significantly to the intention to use the system in the future: enjoyment in using the system and peer-group norms, together accounting for 61% of the variance in intentions to use the system in the future. The implications of the research for theory and practice are discussed. The paper concludes by presenting a theoretical model of the factors identified as being important in the use of electronic supermarkets.