Amazon is coming to Australia, and one change Amazon are introducing in a pilot next year in the US a plan for getting rid of the checkout or the point of sale.
What they are doing is putting a network of sensors around the store. When you come in you activate the system through your smartphone when you walk through the door. Then what you do is pick up the items you want and when you are finished with your shopping walk out of the store. You will be billed automatically. No queues, no checkout, massive staff costs savings and possibly no shoplifting.
I am sure it will be quite a few years away before it goes into the mass market, but it's certainly something to think about. If you want to see how it works click here.
