Self-Checkout Lines for Control Freaks, Aisle 1

I absolutely love chatting with people; I believe everyone on this planet has something important to say. However, when I'm at the market, I have one thing in mind: get home as quickly as possible.

I'll admit it. I love self-checkout lines at grocery stores because conversation is kept to a minimum - the only time you really need to communicate with the clerk is when you've accidentally placed your purse on the scale.

The grocery store has become a labyrinth of liquids and solids. With my latest move, I've had to forget where the olive oil is in Wilsonville, OR to Latham, NY to where it is (now) at Albertson's in Bozeman, MT.

Of course, being in the software industry, I think about how technology could improve the shopper's experience. I recently read an article about carts that feature a hand-held scanner. As a shopper pulls down items they want from the shelf, they scan the item and place it in their cart. After piling in the cereal, sushi, wheat bread, peanut butter, steak, and vegetables, they can pay for their vittles using the shopping cart's system. (Does anyone find it hilarious that e-commerce uses a shopping cart for checkout and now virtual reality has become reality?)

Personally, I'd go for it because my personal bubble is continually being invaded at the self-checkout line. Apparently, most people were absent the day Emily Post told you not to handle other people's fruit. ;^P

Before you think technology hasn't invaded your town, check again. LEDs, LCDs, and touch pads might give the developers away (as well as Star Wars references in the code).

So, if the self-checkout line is full, just grab your light saber, I mean, scanner and defeat Darth Tater to make a mean meal that would make any Jedi proud (and full).