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New Retail Technology Opens Eyes In NYC

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Jan 12, 2009 8:30 pm US/Eastern

New Retail Technology Opens Eyes In NYC

Future Of Decorating: 3-D Visuals, Holograms, Virtual Shopping Give Buyer Powers Never Before Seen

Reporting
Scott Rapoport

NEW YORK (CBS) ―

Click to enlarge 1 of 1: New technology will soon allow you to rearrange your own home virtually before you make a purchase.
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The annual Retail Federation Show at the Javits Center this week is unveiling new technology that may change the way you shop. There's a high tech way to see what you're buying and make sure you'll like it ... before spending any money.

It looks like some gy-normo video game, but it could very well be the future of home shopping and decorating.

"This is the art of the possible. This is a smarter shopping experience that retailers can give their customers," IBM sales manager Brent Cossey said.

Cossey showed CBS 2 HD the latest technology that takes the guess work out of furnishing your house.

It consisted of 3-D visuals, holograms and virtual shopping that allows you to pick and choose your furnishings, arrange it how you like and make sure you like it before you buy.

The advantage of all this in theory is you're not wasting your money.

"Anything that's gonna help a shopper save money is gonna be a king hit in this economy right now," IBM executive Fred Balboni said.

The technology, previewed at the Javits Center, would let customers actually upload pictures of rooms in their own home and fill it with furniture for sale online to see what they're paying for without spending a cent.

A similar concept from a company called EZ Face applies to women and beauty products like makeup and lip gloss.

A woman has her picture snapped at a kiosk and can start experimenting with the product of her choice, simply by scanning its bar code to check out the look that suits her best without ever having to actually try it on.

"To see the product on them in a very realistic and an accurate way," said EZ Face founder Ruth Gal.

We're told both of these new technologies will be available to consumers later this year.

You can view the new technologies at the National Retail Federation Show through Tuesday at the Javits Center.

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