Through the looking glass: South Korean 'augmented reality' mirror allows touchless cosmetics shopping
Record ID:
1560570
Through the looking glass: South Korean 'augmented reality' mirror allows touchless cosmetics shopping
- Title: Through the looking glass: South Korean 'augmented reality' mirror allows touchless cosmetics shopping
- Date: 3rd July 2020
- Summary: CHO LOOKING AT MOBILE PHONE AND PICKING UP LIPSTICK POINT-OF-VIEW FOOTAGE OF CHO TAKING LIPSTICK AND WALKING TOWARDS SHOP ASSISTANT TO BUY IT SHOP ASSISTANT PICKING UP LIPSTICK AND SHOWING IT TO CHO STAFF PACKAGING LIP PRODUCT, HANDING SHOPPING BAG TO CHO, AND CHO WALKING AWAY (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) 24-YEAR-OLD SOUTH KOREAN COLLEGE STUDENT, CHO YU-LIM, SAYING: "First, I could find the colour I want through AR device, check product details by scanning QR code and then buy it. It took very little time and I didn't need to contact anyone before I purchase it." NOTICE SIGN READING (Korean): "OUR STAFF ARE REFRAINING FROM HELPING CUSTOMERS DIRECTLY TEST MAKEUP PRODUCTS TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF THE NEW CORONAVIRUS" LIP PRODUCTS ON DISPLAY AND IMAGE SHOWING WOMAN'S FACE MAKE UP ILLUSTRATION SHOWING LIP COLOUR
- Embargoed: 17th July 2020 09:55
- Keywords: AR Amorepacific Augmented Reality South Korea coronavirus cosmetics infection make-up virtual images
- Location: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
- City: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
- Country: South Korea
- Topics: Health/Medicine,Editors' Choice
- Reuters ID: LVA005CL97BRB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: An augmented reality (AR) mirror at the new Seoul flagship boutique of cosmetics powerhouse Amorepacific makes easy work of seeing if that scarlet shade of lipstick or long-lash mascara suits you - without touching your face.
The mirror takes a photograph of the customer's face and analyses it, recommending products based on skin texture, and addressing any blemishes, wrinkles or dark circles. Customers can then see a computer-generated image of what they would look like wearing a wide range of foundations, blusher, eye products and lipsticks.
"Due to coronavirus, it was uncomfortable to test cosmetics after someone had used. However, this is very convenient as I can see actual colour on my face in a form of AR image without even touching my face," said shopper Cho Yu-lim, 24, as she stood in front of AR mirror.
In addition to social distancing, South Korean government guidelines recommend shoppers try out cosmetics on the backs of their hands, not on their faces.
To minimise human contact and limit the risk of virus spread, the shop has also put QR codes next to all products on display, so customers can check details with their mobile phones instead of talking to staff.
"It took very little time and I didn't need to talk to anyone before I made my purchases," Cho said.
South Korea has been praised how it has handled COVID-19, but Asia's fourth-largest economy has also experienced persistent outbreaks in recent weeks, mostly in the capital.
(Production: Daewoung Kim, Minwoo Park) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2020. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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