Review : Wall-E movie

Theatrical release poster

WALL-E, Pixar's latest film, is about a robot named WALL-E (or 'Waste Allocation Load Lifter, Earth-Class'), who is the only thing left on earth with some sort of emotion. He meets another robot named EVE, and the trip begins.

The animation is flawless. Absolutely flawless. Especially on earth and the robots. It looks real. Much of the time it's impossible to tell whether or not it is real. The few slightly-shaky styled shots that appear a few times in the film only makes the animation that much more amazing and realistic. The humans are really good, too, while not realistic in the sense of you seeing it right now in real life, but they do have a realistic feel to them. The thing with the humans, I believe, is that they were purposefully meant to have this slightly rounded, slightly unrealistic feeling.

I believe the reason is to take a satirical look at humans, and what our goals for a future, perfect utopia, is. It questions what we want, and shows you what is a very, very likely outcome of our desires for a 'better' world, showing both positive and negative effects. The animation for the humans, I believe, was made rounded and slightly more cartoonish to emphasize that that is how we will become. Fat, lazy, yet so perfect. At times, especially with that perspective on the humans, they actually do look very real.

The story is brilliant. There are many little things in the film that have so much meaning to them. There are things that will be nostalgic to older viewers, and things that younger viewers will love to look at. However, it does steer for the cheesy, cliché aspects of a child's film, yet still remaining a completely G-rated film.

WALL-E is such a lovable character. I've never felt so much emotion for one character.  I was so close to crying at pivotal parts in the film, and although I didn't fully break out and cry, I have never felt so much emotion in my heart with any other film as I did with this one.

EVE is very fun and interesting. One scene in particular, with her, was so beautiful, that my eyes got teary. Her chemistry with WALL-E is so oddly perfect. They are so different in appearance and personality, yet they work so well together.

The other robots are all lovable, except for the "enemy" robots, who still add much depth to the film. In particular, M-O was the cutest, obviously not counting WALL-E.

Pixar has always made great animation films. But this, without a doubt, tops all of their own film, and most other films. It restores faith in the animation films. It captures the magic and wonder as past Disney films, which is something I have not seen in most modern animation films.

I would not be surprised at all if this won for best picture of the year. It deserves it more than anything. This is one of greatest achievements in cinematic history, and I encourage everyone to see this.

Review : Metro Group Future Store Initiative

Product Technology :

• Personal Shopping Assistant (PSA)

The convenient, user-friendly computer on the shopping cart.

The Personal Shopping Assistant (PSA) is attached to the shopping cart. It resembles a small, portable computer and is designed to help customers with their shopping. Customers using a PSA identify themselves directly to the device using their customer card. The left side of the PSA screen displays an electronic shopping list, which is operated by the customer himself. The prices of the products that the customer has already scanned are displayed. Whoever purchases discounted items can also see how much he has saved in total.

Customers who have used a PSA on a previous visit to the store will see a suggested shopping list, based on past purchases, and can alter it to suit their needs. Special offers are displayed in the right side of the screen. These are geared to the personal needs of the customer and change according to his location in the store. After the PSA sends the product data to the check-out, through the central data server, the customer can then pay for the goods quickly and easily.

• The Loyalty Card – the Key to the PSA

The PSA can be customized to each individual customer, using the customer card (Loyalty Card), which is issued to regular Future Store customers. It gives the customer access to the numerous technical innovations available in the Future Store. Customers who use the Loyalty Card automatically participate in the Future Store bonus system. Each card is equipped with a magnetic strip and a barcode. Transfer of the chip data is possible at a short distance by holding the plastic card close to the reading device. Customers can check the data in their card and change it, if

required, using the card reader at the information terminal, or from home on their own PC.

• Electronic Advertising Displays

In the Future Store, Electronic Advertising Displays are located right next to the products themselves.

Nineteen-inch advertising screens in the Future Store are used to supplement above-the-line advertising. Attached to the ceiling, they provide information and special offers on products that are in the direct vicinity. The advantage: All advertising messages can be changed within a matter of seconds, if necessary. Additionally, there are larger plasma screens playing videos in the drugstore, detergent, and snack areas, which run promotional videos or product demonstrations. The centrally-controlled displays rely on chips from a database for this. They are equipped with a controller, which operates on the Microsoft Windows 2000 System. They are centrally managed over the local wireless network, through an internal wireless LAN connection. A server equipped with Microsoft Windows 2000 server software, and an SQL Server 2000 operate in the background.

• Information Terminals

Information Terminals provide a wealth of information about the products in the Future Store.

Information Terminals are computers located in the store for the customers’

shopping convenience. They can supply some of the information normally available from the PSA (Personal Shopping Assistant), even without a Loyalty Card. Furthermore, there are Information Terminals in the meat, wine, baby care, fruit and vegetables, hair coloring, and multimedia products sections. The terminals provide shoppers with a host of useful information. For example, they can display a store layout showing the exact location of any product in the store. They can show information on how specific products are manufactured, as well as ingredients. If a customer wants to find out more about certain meat products or wines, he can do so quickly and easily, and print it out right at the terminal. This information is supplemented by an overview of alternative or similar products and recipe suggestions. The functionality of the terminals is continuously being expanded. They will soon be able to provide nutritional information for allergy sufferers and vegetarians, for example. Even now, customers can listen to sample tracks from CDs, or watch DVD clips.

• Electronic Price Labels

The shelves in the Future Store are fitted with centrally-controlled electronic price tags.
Price changes are automatically and wirelessly sent to the display and to the check-out.

In the Future Store, the prices of the products on the shelves are displayed on electronic price labels (Electronic Shelf Labeling, ESL). Pricing information for these labels comes directly from the RealPrice POS system, which is regularly updated by the METRO Group’s Merchandise Management System (MMS). When prices change, the computer’s wireless communication system automatically updates the shelf and the check-out simultaneously, ensuring that price labeling is consistent and up-to-date.

• Intelligent Scales

Automatically recognizes what type of fruit or vegetable is being weighed

Simply place the items on the scale, press “OK”, and attach the printed adhesive label to your item. The scale can automatically differentiate between the different types of fruits and vegetables. The customer no longer has to be inconvenienced with looking for matching icons on a complicated chart. Fitted with a camera and special software, the scale recognizes each product by its

surface texture, color, size, and thermal image. Finally, the total price is calculated from the weight of the items and the price saved in the scale’s memory. A price sticker is printed from a built-in printer, complete with a description of the product, its weight, total price, and a barcode.

Only when the scale is unsure of the right product must the customer choose from a limited number options displayed. This might be the case, for example, if the store is selling a wide range of different tomato varieties, such as beefsteak tomatoes, plum tomatoes, or tomatoes on the vine. Otherwise, the customer just checks that the scales have selected the right product – and confirms by pressing a button.

• The Self Check-out

There are two express lane automated check-outs in the Future Store, supplied by NCR. Supported by interactive prompts from the system, the customer can pay for his shopping without ever seeing a cashier, by using a userfriendly touchscreen, scanner and payment terminal. The customer enters the product information by swiping items across a 360-degree scanner and barcode reader. He then places his products in a shopping bag, and its weight is checked against that of the scanned items. If there is a discrepancy, a member of staff at the information desk is automatically alerted and will look into the problem.

There are two payment options: cash (both bills and coins) using the special cash terminal, or debit/credit card. Paying by debit or credit card is exactly the same as using a normal cash machine at the bank – the customer inserts the card, enters a PIN number, and the appropriate amount is debited. The Self Check-out sends the details of each transaction to the store’s central POS controller, which transfers the sales data to the central Merchandise Management System (MMS)

• Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)

Thanks to the wireless Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), store employees can communicate more flexibly and efficiently.

Future Store employees work with the latest handheld computers, known as PDAs. With the PDA, employees can check stock levels in the central merchandise management system from any point in the store. Employees can also use their PDAs to quickly change the messages on electronic advertising displays, send and receive e-mail, and manage contact details and schedules.

• Wireless LAN

The wireless local network is the backbone of the Future Store’s data and speech communication system.

The Wireless Local Area Network links all mobile equipment and a number of fixed equipment items in the Future Store. Facilities, such as the Personal Shopping Assistant (PSA), Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), Information Terminals and Electronic Advertising Displays all communicate wirelessly with the store’s central server through access points. Both data and speech communication (IP telephony) use the Internet protocol (IP). In parallel, the Future Store is hardwired for  fixed equipment based on Ethernet. The great advantage of modern WLAN technology is that no complicated cabling is necessary. Thanks to WLAN, mobile devices function without having to be connected to expensive public wireless networks, such as GSM and UMTS.

• RFID Technology

The RFID technology (Radio Frequency Identification) is the basis for optimized retail processes.

Using RFID, product information is automatically transmitted by radio signals. The key component of this technology is the RFID tag: a tiny computer chip and antenna, which are embedded in a wafer thin label. It can be attached to products or transport packaging. As soon as the chip comes within one meter (approx. three feet) of a Future Store reading station, it sends its numeric code to the reader. This “RFID reader gate” is linked to a Future Store database, which holds product-specific information obtained from the tags, such as expiration date, product name and price. The system requires, however, that the product and reading device are no further than one meter apart.

• Smart Shelves

Readers built into the shelves recognize the RFID label attached to each product, and detect when a product has been incorrectly placed or removed.

Thus far, only a few product groups in the Future Store have been fitted with RFID tags. These products are stocked on “intelligent” shelves. RFID readers linked directly to the RFID goods flow system are installed underneath these smart shelves. If an article is removed from or added to the shelf, the display detects the movement and updates the inventory in the system. The system instantly knows when products have been incorrectly placed or are missing, thereby preventing out-of-stock situations. The Smart Shelf also supports quality assurance: it automatically recognizes when the expiration date has been exceeded and informs the staff accordingly. 

The Benefit :

• Customization

Today, mass-produced products dominate the market. But don’t you wish you could also buy products tailored to your specific needs? Whether cereal, hi-fi equipment or clothing, we one day may be able to exclusively customize every product to your personal taste – and deliver it exactly when you need it.

• Mobility

Shop whenever and wherever you want. Perhaps, after a hard day’s work, you would rather choose your new dress, or the ingredients for your barbecue from the comfort of your sofa, rather than in the store. Or, one day, sales agents will be able to visit you at home, with a selection of products to choose from – virtually, or in person. You might even be able to order your favorite pizza while on a skiing vacation in Aspen.

• Virtuality

Just imagine you can feel the silk of your new dressing gown on your skin, or smell the aroma of freshly ground Columbian coffee – sitting in front of your TV, or your PC at home. This could be possible for you in the future.

• Efficiency

New technologies also have benefits for us retailers: they enable us to work more efficiently with our suppliers. The benefit of this to you, the customer, is that we can fulfill your needs much faster. Our ultimate goal is to relieve our employees of timeconsuming administrative work, so that they can spend more time serving you.

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