I volunteer, normally on a Friday afternoon, in a local charity shop. I got asked if I would do today, Saturday, as well. I said yes to help out (I don’t know how to say that without making me sound noble for doing that), but it’s not. I made it quite clear that my offering extra help does not establish a precedent.
It’s the first time I’ve done a Saturday, and I have to say, I quite enjoyed it. Yesterday and today, I’ve seen a couple of old friends from work, and because it’s Saturday, it felt like there were more families out. Oh, that reminds me, yesterday’s friend reminds me that I need to resume watching the sky at night
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b006mk7h/the-sky-at-night
as he has a bit of a tendency to ask me about the recent episode.
I had a few opportunities to show where the use of AI could be useful. One was with a customer asking what a particular stone was in a small collection, I was able to confirm that it was Malachite and Azurite. The customer bought the stones so that was good.
On another occasion, the shop had been given a camera lens, but it wasn’t clear what the mount was. I suspected that it was a Nikon Mount, and luckily, we were able to confirm that (the lens was a non-marque manufacturer, so it wasn’t clear by just looking at it.)
And finally (to be honest, the one that I am most interested in) I was able to show how by taking a photograph of a bookshelf, AI was able to identify, categorise and value the books, Also, by comparing a bookshelf in the shop by taking a picture a week apart, AI would be able to identify what books had been sold. What would be the most popular?
I also suggested that they stop putting non-fiction on the bottom shelf, where it is most inaccessible to people who are more likely to be interested in them.
Apart from being an enjoyable afternoon, it was also useful for me.
Bills Posts 