Methods and systems for facilitating the provision of opinions to a shopper from a panel of peers

Abstract

In accordance with one or more embodiments, a system determines an image, selects a panel of participants, and outputs the image to each of the participants of the panel of participants. The image may be an image of a garment a shopper is considering purchasing, an image of the shopper wearing the garment, or an image of a virtual model of the shopper combined with an image of the garment. The panel of participants may be selected based on a characteristic associated with the shopper. The image may be output to the panel of participants along with a request for an opinion regarding the garment (e.g., “Buy It” or “Don't Buy It”). The responses may be collected from the participants and an indication of the results may be output to the shopper.

1 . A method, comprising: 
 receiving an image from a shopper, the image depicting a garment;    selecting for the shopper, substantially at a time the image is received, a plurality of participants to whom the image is to be output, each of the participants of the plurality of participants being selected based on 
 a characteristic specified by a shopper associated with the garment;  
   causing, substantially at a time the plurality of participants is selected, the image to be output to each participant of the plurality of participants by causing a cellular telephone of the participant to display the image, 
 wherein a request for an opinion regarding the garment is output in association with the image;  
   collecting responses to the request for a predetermined period of time from a time at which the image was output, 
 wherein the predetermined period of time is not longer than ten minutes; and  
   outputting an indication of the collected responses to the shopper.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selecting is further based on a current availability of the participant.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein collecting comprises: 
 collecting responses to the request until (i) ten minutes from a time at which the image was output passes, or (ii) a minimum number of responses are received.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 providing the shopper with information that allows the shopper to communicate with at least one participant.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 providing compensation to at least one participant in exchange for at least one response to a request for an opinion that the participant provided.