| Popis: |
Today, people use the computer as part of their daily lives, whether it is at work, home, or in the palm of their hands. The increased popularity of online access has changed society in the areas of communication, commerce, research, and entertainment. As society changes, architecture will change with it. The retail industry is ready to undergo a transformation. Thus, this thesis explores the integration of virtual and physical environments to achieve a unique way of retailing that provides the customer with an enhanced experience, convenient service, and personalized stores. Communication among customers includes access to a virtual world, which allows them to interact with distant locations and individuals whether in the main physical store, virtually from a home computer, or from a branch location. Technology gives the retailer the ability to change quickly, access a larger customer base, and personalize advertising to individuals. Accordingly, it is hypothesized that the new retail environment will be a collection of inter-connected retail communities, both real and virtual, interacting in ways previously believed to be science fiction. |
