SmartShopper Digital Grocery List Maker
Last May, the International Home and Housewares Show in Chicago had more than 2,100 exhibitors from 34 countries. One of the best reviewed products was a little handheld device known as the SmartShopper. It has already appeared on the Rachel Ray show, and it has been in the spotlight ever since.
The SmartShopper is an excellent device that I’m sure will inspire more products of its type. The concept behind the device is quite simple: a digital place to put a grocery list. Unlike other grocery lists, the user does even have to write anything down to make it work. In fact, there is very little buttons at all on the SmartShopper.
The largest button is the Record Button. Pushing that activates the voice-recognition software that allows the user to say the item he or she wants on their personal grocery list. I had no idea that voice activated software works that well, and it selects a few options for whatever you pick. For example, if you say “Eggs”, it might translate it as “shoes”. I know, I think that is weird it would have interpreted it like that, but there are even stranger ones.
There are over 2,500 words that are already in the SmartShopper already. In fact, all the words are assembled in a whole book, even with phrases like “Canned Chicken Noodle Soup”. Not only are there grocery items on the internal digital list, but there are also errands to stop on the way to the grocery store such as the bank, mall and other places.
If an item doesn’t appear on the list, you can add it manually. Of course, you need to spell it out yourself, and since there is no alphabetic keypad, you have to do it verbally. The good news is your new items will also appear verbally when you want them to.
You don’t have to take the SmartShopper to the grocery mart. You have the option to print out your list. The box itself comes with two refill packs for the printer. When you print the list out, it somehow categorizes it. I suppose that makes it easy to shop.
My only holdback to the SmartShopper is that it doesn’t turn off. It also doesn’t come with the 4 AA batteries, and isn’t able to recharge like your cell phone or iPod. I also can’t figure out how to change the printer ribbon inside.
However, one of the pluses of the SmartShopper is that it magnetically adheres to the refrigerator. It is definitely worth the $149.00 USD, and it can be purchased at www.smartshopperusa.com.
