Stick N Seek: Revolutionizing Shopping and Dining Experiences

AR Application Uses RFID Technology for Personalized Recommendations

The inspiration for Stick N Seek came from the common human tendency to rely on friends' interests when trying new things. The app aims to reduce the hesitation and indecision people often face when deciding what to buy, eat, or wear. By leveraging the power of AR and RFID technology, Stick N Seek allows users to receive suggestions from their loved ones, adding a social element to the shopping and dining experience.

RFID tags, located under food dishes or on clothing items, are the backbone of this innovative application. These tags interact with the user's smartphone, enabling them to find items suggested by their friends once they enter a shop or restaurant. The app also offers a unique feature that allows users to surprise their loved ones with gifts. The recipient can then visit the specified shop and use the app to find their secret gift, adding an element of fun and surprise to the shopping experience.

The Stick N Seek application is a perfect blend of technology and human interaction. It serves as a bridge between the virtual and physical worlds, enhancing user interaction with various items. For instance, rather than opening a menu in the app interface and selecting a specific food to comment on, users can simply tap on their meal via their mobile phone screen to like it, comment on it, or even add it to their favorite foods. This feature not only increases engagement but also reduces the effort required to make suggestions about items and foods.

The project, which began in December 2016 in Tehran, faced several challenges, particularly in defining a method for the mobile phone to recognize each item or food and then transmit and receive data via scanning that item. The solution was found in RFID tags, which gather data and transmit them effectively. The first stage of the project was completed in February 2017, and a pilot test is expected to begin in Mashhad by the end of June.

Stick N Seek's innovative approach to enhancing user experiences in shopping and dining has been recognized with the prestigious Golden A' Mobile Technologies, Applications and Software Design Award in 2017. This award is granted to marvelous, outstanding, and trendsetting creations that reflect the designer's prodigy and wisdom, embodying extraordinary excellence and significantly impacting the world with their desirable characteristics.