1.   After a customer scans the goods and puts them on a conveyor belt, a laser checks the item and price.

2.   One of the latest ideas is a self-checkout system that allows customers to scan their own items and charge them to cards and depart.

3.   Self-scanners allow customers to scan their purchases as they shop, saving time at checkouts.

4.   The system allows customers to scan their own groceries and pay a cash machine that can provide change or accept a debit or credit card.

5.   When customers scan in a bar code, DigitalConvergence automatically plugs the right address into their Web browser.

6.   Wal-Mart also has some self-service checkout counters, enabling customers to scan and pay for merchandise themselves.