Ideas

So here is the ideas page. As of now, we have a few good ideas going. Rishi, you can best explain the idea of stores transmitting sale/product information directly to customers' phones via bluetooth. And Rasheed, you have the sheet compiled during today's seminar session. Please post these ideas, in as much detail as possible, including target customers, problems they may face, and our potential solutions for those problems. As inspiration hits you, continue to add more to this page. We'll try to make a final decision by monday, September 26. What do you think?

Two customers: - Fast food restaurants and shops will purchase a software license, as well as the bluetooth transmitter that communicates with customer's cell phones - Restaurant customers will download our app to their smartphone so they can use it conveniently at any participating restuarant or store Customers in fast food restaurants have to wait in two different lines; the process of ordering food taking between 10-15 minutes during rush hours. - First, they wait in line to tell the cashier what they want, as well as pay for their order -- cash and credit card processing takes more time as well - Second, they wait in another line to receive their food -- taking between 5-10 minutes
 * 1. BlueTail** (fusion between bluetooth and retail)
 * Customer -**
 * Problem(s) addressed -**

For restaurants: Our solution, StoreConnect, eliminates the time customers have to spend in line ordering their food. When a customer enters a fast food restaurant, they are automatically shown a virtual menu on their cell phone, from which they select what they want. Multiple customers can place orders simultaneously using their cell phone and pay for their order using their saved credit card information. All that's left to do is pick up their order once it is ready.
 * Solution(s) -**

2. **Computers-All-In-One** Customers: - People looking to buy a new computer. They could be a 1st time buyer or computer expert. - Store owners big and small (Best Buy,Future shop and the little computer shops)

Task to be done/ Problem: - People need to buy new computers but technology is rapidly advancing. Within 2-3year most computers become outdated, new processor chips are created and hard drive space is increased. People have to constantly keep up with new technology changes. Also there is a huge variety of computers to choose from making buying the right one for your needs hard. - smaller computer shops may have better prices on custom computers but can't reach a large enough market.

Solutions - A website that can list all computer with prices and descriptions from all local computer shops (big and small) in one place. It would also have information about processors, RAM, hard drives etc to help customers make more informed purchases. Smaller computer shops could now gain more potential customers and maybe even create a new market segments which the larger stores don't sell to.


 * 3. Windshield GPS System**
 * Customer - drivers (elderly, travelers, pretty much any person that needs to get somewhere and that is comfortable with using GPS technology)**


 * Tasks to be done - People need to get places and they may not know how to get there. They need a device that will keep them focused on the road while providing them with correct, reliable, and easy to ready directions.**


 * Problem - most GPS screens are small, have tiny fonts and touch screens. People tend to type the wrong streets names because the touch screens are sensitive and our fingers are large. Also there hard to see on the dashboard when there only 4.3 inches.**


 * Solution - A heads up display that is projected onto your windshield. You speak to your car and it find where you want to go and displays directions turn by turn onto your windshield. Therefore your eyes are always on the road and your hands are always on the wheel. Only problem is that some people may see this as a distraction.**


 * 4. Parking Lot Availability Display**
 * Customer - Students, professors, or guests of UTM (eventually, public locations, such as malls)**


 * Problem(s) addressed - Driving endlessly through large parking lots, uncertain of any parking space availability**
 * - Wasting litres of precious automotive fuel (gas) seeking a free space**
 * - Wasting time**


 * Solution - Each parking spot is outfitted with a sensor which recognizes the presence (or absence) of a vehicle**
 * - Sensors are connected to an LCD (or some efficient form of display, probably solar powered) screen, displayed at the entrance**
 * of a particular parking lot (each spot is a sector, displaying its own parking spot availability)**
 * - When a spot is filled, the LCD screen decreases its tally appropriately**