A shopping receptacle for facilitating interaction between a user and a
computer system, the receptacle being adapted to receive and retain a
product item having an interface surface associated therewith, the
interface surface having disposed thereon or therein coded data including
a plurality of coded data portions, each coded data portion being
indicative of the identity of the product item, wherein the receptacle
comprises: (a) a receptacle body adapted to receive and retain the
product item; and, (b) a sensing device adapted to: (i) sense at least
some of the coded data on the interface surface of the product item as
the product item is positioned in a sensing region; , and, (ii) generate,
using the sensed coded data, indicating data indicative of the identity
of the product item; and, (iii) transfer the indicating data to the
computer system; and, (c) a user interface for facilitating the
interaction with the computer system, the interaction being performed
using the indicating data.