eBay acquires technology which will enable you to try clothes on virtually!

If you hate the unflattering light and cramped conditions of shop changing rooms but equally hate it when you have waited all week for your item to arrive and it doesn`t fit. Well eBay may have solved both these problems by acquiring new software which will make it possible for you to try things on from the comfort of your own sofa.

Ebay has purchased PhiSix Fashion Labs for an undisclosed amount of money. PhiSix is a computer graphics firm that creates 3D models of clothingl from photos and pattern files to "simulate the behavior" of the item, eBay said.

The innovation allows consumers to see how the clothing  fits, looks and moves in various environments without having to actually try them on, given the limitations of the online shopping environment.Using photos, pattern files, and other means to assist in identifying garment behavior, PhiSix can create what it describes as “physically accurate simulations” of the clothes, with options for different fabric patterns. When it has your basic body measurements, the system can recommend a size.

PhiSix was founded by Jonathan Su in 2012. Su is a former Intel research scientist. He and his team of three will be joining eBay`s innovation and new ventures team, and will be responsible for working on ways to transform retail.

eBay said the technology can be incorporated across the entire eBay portfolio to improve online and in-store shopping experiences. Steve Yankovich, the vice president of eBay`s Innovation and New Ventures unit also hinted that eBay could possibly extend the system beyond just trying on clothes.

This acquisition could help eBay deal with the issue that many online retailers face. The problem is that many consumers refrain from buying online as they don`t have the confidence that the product will fit or suit them.  Until now most e-commerce companies have solved this problem with the more costly way of offering free returns.

So in the near future we could be safe in the knowledge that the clothes we have ordered online will fit  and if you are a online clothes retailer then you will hopefully see a substantial decrease on the amount of returns you receive.