英公司发明排队神器
App uses infrared sensors to help you pick the fastest line
When you're out shopping it can sometimes feel like you're always stuck at the end of the longest line.
外出购物,总免不了碰上排队这个老大难问题：长长的队伍似乎总排不完.
Shoppers know this age-old dilemma all to well - do you stick to your guns with the queue you're in? Or do you gamble on another queue and risk it all in the hope of gaining more ground?
不少人或许深有体会：身在队中,内心无比挣扎,究竟是一鼓作气排到底？还是换条队伍试试运气呢？
Now, a system called ZipLine is promising to help shoppers win that battle every time, by using infrared sensors to help them to pick the fastest queue.
近来,一款名为ZipLine的软件横空出世,号称屡试不爽的排队神器.其内置的红外感应器可迅速识别最快的队伍.
The technology, developed by Cambridge Consultants looks at the length of queues and how fast they are moving to work out which is the best one to join.
这款软件由剑桥科技咨询公司打造,能够识别队伍长度与移动速度,从而为用户推荐最省时的队伍.
Launched this week at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the concept combines the sensors with a long-range, low-power radio network.
本周,消费电子产品展在拉斯维加斯开幕,这款内置感应器与远程低功率无线电系统的概念产品惊艳亮相.
Algorithms then convert the sensor data into useful information which can be displayed on a shopper's phone.
通过科学计算,感应器的数据可转化为实用信息,并传送到用户的手机上.
The firm behind ZipLine claims there are no privacy issues around the data it captures, as it does not obtain any identifiable data from customers.
剑桥科技称,此款应用并不会收集客户的身份信息,因此不必担心隐私问题.
According to Cambridge Consultants, it is also different from existing queue monitoring systems as it can handle queues that are not all in the same place.
另外,ZipLine与已有的排队应用不同,它甚至可以同时监控不同场所的排队实况.
The long-range radio system works over a number of miles and the technology could combine queue information from multiple outlets.
ZipLine内置的远程无线电系统覆盖极广,能够收集并统计多个地点的队伍信息.
The system is still being developed, but the firm told MailOnline it is reportedly in talks with retailers about using the technology.
目前,此应用尚处试验阶段,但剑桥科技向《每日邮报》网站透露,公司正与各大零售商积极磋商,推广使用.
