You may soon be able to try on jewellery, clothes before buying on Amazon

Key highlights

• Amazon was granted two patents on use of augmented reality.
• Customers will be able to virtually 'try-on' the products before buying.
• Furniture testing at home before purchase may also be a reality with Amazon. 

The US based e-commerce market place is reportedly working on a plan to include augmented reality (AR) in a move to let shoppers try on products before buying them.

Amazon was granted two patents, one on ‘augmented reality presentation’ and a second on ‘forming a representation of an item with light,’ a report by CB Insights said on Tuesday.

The first patent on augmented reality talks about using product data from an e-commerce website to generate ‘highly realistic’ images of the same giving customers the chance to try on merchandise before purchase.

“The shopper could ‘try on’ the products before buying, which the patent argues could reduce returns (a major expense for many online retailers) and reduce the 'logistical issues and corresponding costs' of ‘maintaining a storefront,’” the report said.

Although cameras and sensors would be required for this new plan of Amazon, it would enable the e-commerce giant to “bypass one of brick-and-mortar retail’s few remaining advantages — the ability to let shoppers try on before buying,” the report said.

The report further described Amazon’s futuristic technology citing an example.

“To enhance the images’ realism, the patent even describes replicating reflective surfaces in augmented reality. For example, if the AR environment were to show a watch face or TV screen in augmented reality, it would use sensors to capture imagery from the rest of the room and then portray the glass or screen with a reflective surface,” CB Insights report said.

In simpler terms the report explained that if a customer were looking at a TV in augmented reality, the screen would appear to be accurately reflecting the shopper and the rest of the room as a ‘shiny’ surface does in real life.

Image Source: CB Insights

Coming to the second patent by Amazon the report said it was a system to project images of products into a room, so shoppers could see how furniture or other items look before purchase.

“According to the patent, the system would a) reduce the need for shoppers to physically measure products and spaces, and b) reduce return rates,” the report said.

Image Source: CB Insights

“By letting users virtually try on items at home, Amazon could help shoppers feel comfortable buying unfamiliar brands – including Amazon brands – without first seeing them in stores,” the report added.