Future Store Initiative unveiled at the VHS Duisburg (VHS = "People's University")

 On 5 December 1919 the Duisburg Volkshochschule was opened by the then Lord Mayor Karl Jarres in the Tonhalle, the town's concert hall. To mark its 90th anniversary, this institution organised a Day of Learning with short seminars, workshops and learning stations on various different topics.

 The Future Store Initiative set out its stall to visitors with presentations of the Smart Scale and the Mobile Shopping Assistant (MSA). The software in the MSA uses the digital camera on a mobile phone to read the barcode of a product and transmits product information to the customer. At the forefront of the retail experience, customers are also able to draw up a shopping list with the help of the MSA. At a location equipped with various types of mobile telephone on which MSA software was loaded, visitors were able to test out this range of functionality thoroughly.

 A further innovation of the Future Store Initiative, and one being employed successfully at METRO GROUP, is the device known as the Smart Scales (weighing machine). This device uses an integral digital camera to identify which kind of fruit or vegetable the customer is placing on the weighing machine. When weighing, customers now no longer need to note down numbers nor to look for the appropriate image on the display screen. Specialist software, using a camera, is able to identify different products from their colour, shape and size. Then the scales calculate the total price based on the quantity weighed and the product price stored in its memory.

 The Smart Scales are now in use in all Real hypermarkets in Germany.

 Alongside the Future Store Initiative, Haniel presented a few historical objects from his museum such as an old till, scales and book-keeping tomes in support of the "Changing Face of the Retail Trade" theme ["Handel im Wandel"], illustrating the retail trade of yesteryear, today and tomorrow.