C-3PO and R2-D2 Are Not Different UX Philosophies

When discussing the future of robotic and artificial intelligent technology, C-3PO and R2-D2 are often used as an attempt to illustrate the choice between designing humanoid robots and non-humanoid robots.  However, these comparisons are often superficial and overlook the fact that C-3PO's humanoid design and R2-D2's non-humanoid design is very much tied to their function rather then arbitrary design decisions.

C-3PO exists as a translator or liaison between people, droids and maybe equipment of difference species and makes.  For example, he translated what Jabba the Hut said to Luke in Return of the Jedi and often translates R2-D2's beeps.  His knowledge of six million forms of communication means he is much better at this then a person could be in the same position and having a humanoid form ensures that there is no sacrifice in usability by using a droid.  If C-3PO looked like R2-D2 then the conversations would be more awkward as the addition of a droid would be much more obvious.

R2-D2 exists as a replacement for a humanoid engineer and thus he is essentially an intelligent toolbox. His design and unique non-humanoid features reflect and support this role including the ability to conduct maintenance with a variety of built in tools and the ability to do his job while rolling around on the hull of ship in space.  A versatile droid such as R2-D2 would be difficult to create if he looked like C-3PO.  In addition to the practical issues of putting R2-D2's features on a humanoid form consider the confusion that would happen in a frantic battle where crew members are getting blowing into space and a medical droid sees a humanoid form clinging to the side of a ship.

The reason that C-3PO looks humanoid while R2-D2 looks like a rolling toolbox is not arbitrary or due to superficial reasons such as friendliness. Their respective forms are required to provide the best user experience and ensure that they are each fulfilling their unique purpose.

The Future of eCommerce

Today shopping on the Internet is essentially the same as shopping with a catalog in that you are simply seeing lists of items with descriptions.  As you shop you add items you want to a "shopping cart" that is essentially just a product list and when you are ready to place the order you fill in your contact and billing information on a form.  While doing this on a website is much more easier and accurate  than using older methods of ordering, such as the telephone, I think that new technologies have the potential to make this a much better experience. Specifically, virtual reality devices like the Microsoft HoloLens could radically change  the online shopping experience and perhaps even bring relief to failing "brick and mortar" stores.

Imagine this scenario: a person wants go shopping online at a technology store that also exists as a brick and mortar chain.  Rather then head to a web browser, they launch their favorite shopping application that works with their virtual reality headset.  They put on the headset and they are standing in front of a virtual simulation of the physical location where they normally go.  After walking through the door a cart is automatically provided and they start their shopping trip by walking around the store.

When they get to a product they are considering, they reach for it and a virtual version of the box appears floating in front of the its peers on the shelf.  After grabbing the floating product, they start examining it, flipping it over to reading the back. They decide to buy this item so they place the product in their cart.  They repeat this with another product but after deciding not to buy it they place the box near the shelf where it was floating and let go.

As they finish their shopping trip and are ready to complete the purchase of their items, they head for the checkout counter.  When they arrive the cart disappears, its contents tallied, and the customer is    prompted for their billing information. After providing it, as well as a shipping address, they receive a receipt and shipping information so they know when their order will be delivered.  They then walk through the exit door and back to the virtual street or virtual mall.

On another visit, as the inventory on the virtual shelves is the same as that stores physical shelves, they remember they really need ink and it looks like the store going to run out again as they were out of luck last time they needed ink.  They are also enthusiastic to look at the new monitors more closely so they decide to take the time to head down to the physical location.  While they have only visited it a handful of times, their hundreds of visits online mean they know the location of every product with their eyes closed.

Is this possible today? There are already technologies available to do the sensing and virtual reality display in addition to screen based first person virtual reality that is as old as first person games.  Moreover, there could be different ways of presenting the virtual store that is familiar to the layout but more efficient then a full simulation, such as an interactive map.  Technology is causing the physical world and the virtual world to move closer and stores will need to respond to ensure customers have the best shopping experience.