Want To Color Your Hair? Try #VR First @LOrealParisUSA Next Week Perhaps #AR Too!

I like it when companies use tech creatively to their benefit and in turn to the benefit of customers. For instance, I received an email today from L'Oreal Paris USA touting a new Virtual Reality (VR) tool that allows you to virtually try on different hair shades to see what you like and what you will look like before you dye. (You take a selfie and then apply filters matching shade colors to the image.)

While I wasn't planning to dye my hair anytime soon, I still paused to check out the creative use of tech and to appreciate that a company was working to use tech tools to its advantage. If Virtual Reality (or Augmented Reality) allows me to try on clothes, dye my hair, tour locations around the world, etc. all from the comfort of my own home then this is a win for me, especially because I'm a homebody.

There are few things which require my physical presence, in my opinion. I much prefer sending my telepresence wherever possible. Luckily for me, this is also the direction in which many routine chores, tasks and services are also moving. I hate being photographed, but for a service that saves me trouble and hassle I'd consider the trade-off (providing there are appropriate privacy/usage/copyright controls, of course).

Check the L'Oreal VR tool: Take a Selfie With Our Virtual Hair Color Try-On Tool! (Click "Try It On" on the hair color product image.)

L'Oreal is also developing Augmented Reality (AR) tools in partnership with Facebook. See the news release: https://www.loreal.com/media/news/2018/august/modiface.

#EchoLook: It's #Amazon #Alexa #AI #HandsFree #Camera + #StyleAssistant #NewProducts #SmartDevices #Selfies

Got an email from Amazon yesterday introducing the new Echo Look, which is billed as a "Hands-Free Camera and Style Assistant" or in other words, a glorified automatic selfie camera. You can take full-length photos and short videos with the Echo Look. (It has Alexa built-in, so it's voice controlled.) It also has "built-in LED lighting, a depth-sensing camera and computer vision-based background blur" along with a companion app that allows you to check out your photos and build personal lookbooks.

Amazon Echo Look

The listed price is $199.99, free shipping included. This product can be purchased "by invitation only." You can request an invitation to purchase the Echo Look on its product page. (If selected, you will receive an email with an invitation to purchase.) So of course, I requested my invite immediately. Immediately, I tell you.

ROFLMAO!

NOTE: There is nothing wrong with taking pictures of yourself --- if that's what you want to do. There is also absolutely nothing wrong with an AI controlled camera. In fact, I can think of myriad uses for this thing that would NOT involve selfies in any way, shape or form. It's merely that for all the data Amazon supposedly collects on its customers, looks like somebody would have recognized that a person who HATES having her picture taken is likely NOT the market demographic for this product (as it's billed). But Big Data is only as good as its mining... And don't get me started on the marketing gimmick of something only being available to PURCHASE "by invitation." I could rant about this for days... Days!