Life has been changed by technology over the past 20 years.
Blackberries chain us to our offices instead of just living in our jelly, and bosses and coworkers never leave us alone. Cell phones make us reachable by anybody, at anytime, anywhere. E-mail blurs quitting time, erasing the line between work and home. Slowly, steadily, technology has taken over our lives.
Likewise, advertising has become smarter. Amex sponsors a Barbie cash register. Apple computers are strategically placed in our favorite movies. New mothers are given “gift bags” filled with name-brand baby products. We share the road with trucks that do nothing but carry giant billboards around town.
And now, television and advertising have become one (it was just a matter of time) and produced…the TV Kart. They have joined to follow us into the grocery store.
This cart has a car compartment that will hold your child and show them episodes of children’s TV shows (Barney, Dora, Thomas the Tank Engine, the Wonder Pets, etc). You can shop in peace and quiet…oh, wait. No, you can’t. Because while your child enjoys the enchanting kiddie shows, you get to watch commercials!
And, once you’re ready to go, you can transfer all of your bags to a different cart for the trip to your car…because these carts are too special to leave the store. I’m envisioning prying little fingers from the car door while a little voice screams, “No – more Thomas, Mommy!”
The Safeway in Kensington now has at least one of these carts. I only saw one, abandoned in the middle of an aisle…probably because some poor soul just couldn’t take the constant barrage of commercials thrown at them (or the kiddie show theme songs playing over and over and over and over again). I assume that where there is one, there are others.
The cart I saw has Barney on one side and Thomas the Tank Engine on the other. It looked very cool and kid-magnet-y. The roof was taller than the other car carts, which would mean a more comfy ride. Add in the included TV, and I’m in serious trouble. I guess I can always wear my IPod to shield me from the ads and screams. Ah…technology…