The real guts of the AURA project is a community website where users can discuss scanned items. The current user interface contains four categories: most recently scanned public items, public items scanned by most users, most recently annotated public items, and top user's public items. Drilling down on any given item will present you with information such as UPC (ISBN for books), category, release date, and some pricing details. Besides browsing through products, clients can perform a text search for other users and items.
A Microsoft spokesperson gave Ars Technica the following example as to how AURA is useful to consumers:
Imagine the day when you'll be able to scan the bar code of any item at the grocery store and find out how and where an item was produced, access additional nutritional information, find warnings about prescription drug interactions, and read comments from other consumers. Imagine shopping for a gift for a friend or family member who has created their own online holiday gift registry.
Microsoft AURA - mobile info for shoppers
Posted on Monday, December 18 2006 @ 9:05 CET by Thomas De Maesschalck