Windows Phone Thoughts: Wireless PDA Software Helps Grocery Shoppers

"Someday soon grocery shoppers using a wireless personal digital assistant (PDA) may be able to interact with a store's computer system to locate items and learn about special promotions. In a field test of a prototype PDA system developed by Georgia Institute of Technology researchers, shoppers reported that the device made shopping easier and more efficient. Shoppers tended to avoid impulse buys and also found items in the store more quickly. On the downside, shoppers did not like holding the PDA while shopping, and many suggested a docking station on the shopping cart – an idea explored, but not tested in this study. 'It's still an unanswered question as to whether the PDA is the right device for use in grocery stores,' said Georgia Tech Associate Professor of Computing John Stasko, who supervised the project. 'Our study clearly showed some potential. But the devil is in the details.'"

It's noteworthy that they're using an iPaq, and the demo was mocked up using Flash. The project homepage is here.