Tech innovations for retail industry on show at A*Star event at Biopolis

More than 60 ICT-based solutions for the retail industry are on show at the Media Exploits event at Biopolis on Wednesday and Thursday (Nov 4 and 5).

Now in its fifth year, the annual event is organised by Exploit Technologies (ETPL), the commercialisation arm of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star). While targeted at industry professionals, the event at the Matrix Building is also open to the public from 9am to 5.30pm.

The innovations on show include an augmented reality application, developed by A*Star researchers, that allows consumers to visualise how a piece of furniture would look in their homes.

There is also a web application that enables customers to try on different hairstyles at hair salons. This was developed by local start-up Gamurai, based on 3D-modelling technology licensed from A*Star.

Other projects in various stages of development also propose solutions in the areas of healthcare, robotics, home care and interactive digital media.

Mr Philip Lim, chief executive officer of ETPL, said a major objective of the event was to bring people from different communities together, particularly those who understand markets and consumer demand.

He said: “You need to bring teams of people and talent forward to where the technology has been groomed, maybe even to the point where they can influence the technology.

“They can tell the researchers – why are you doing this? Isn’t this a better way of doing things, because this is what people need out there.”