When you're out shopping it can sometimes feel like you're always stuck at the end of the longest line.

    Shoppers know this age-old dilemma all too 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?

    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.

    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. Launched at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the concept combines the sensors with a long-range, low-power radio network.

    Algorithms then convert the sensor data into useful information which can be displayed on a shopper's phone.

    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.

    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.

    The long-range radio system works over a number of miles and the technology could combine queue information from multiple outlets.

    The system is still being developed, but the firm is reportedly in talks with retailers about using the technology.

    In practice, this could mean you could check what the queues are like at your favorite chain of coffee shops, and it would tell you the fastest place to get your coffee – which could be slightly further away, but with a much reduced waiting time.

    Tim Ensor of Cambridge Consultants said, "In the increasingly competitive retail sector, technology can be a crucial differentiator.

    "We're also looking at the option of using Bluetooth beacon technology which could offer the queue length information to consumers on their phone without needing to use an app at all."

    Words to Learn 相关词汇  

    左右为难

    zuǒyòu wéinán

    dilemma

    a situation that requires a choice between options that are or seem equally unfavorable or unsatisfactory

    坚持

    jiānchí

    stick to one's guns

    maintain one's opinions or intentions in spite of

    英公司发明排队神器

    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。

    不少人深有体会：内心无比挣扎，究竟是排在这一队坚持到底？还是换条队试试运气呢？

    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。

    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。

    在拉斯维加斯的消费电子产品展，这款结合感应器与远程低功率无线电系统的概念产品惊艳亮相。

    通过科学计算，感应的数据可转化为实用信息，传送到用户手机上。

    剑桥科技称，此款应用不会收集客户的识别信息，因此不必担心隐私问题。

    另外，ZipLine与已有的排队应用不同，它可以同时监控不同场所的排队实况。

    ZipLine的远程无线电系统覆盖数英里，能收集统计多个地点的排队信息。

    目前，此应用尚处试验阶段，但据报道该公司正与各大零售商积极磋商推广应用。

    举个例子，去买咖啡前，你可以打开ZipLine查阅你中意的咖啡店排队的实时信息，软件会告诉你想尽快买到咖啡该去哪家分店——有时候，你或许得多走几步，但却省了不少排队时间。

    剑桥科技咨询公司的蒂姆·恩索尔表示：“零售商之间的竞争日益激烈，为吸引客户，科技或成秘密武器。”

    “我们也在尝试使用蓝牙发射技术。如此一来，用户无需打开手机应用，也能收到实时排队信息。”