NOW HAIR THIS 

SASKATOON, SASKATCHEWAN -- I RAN INTO A HOT HIGH TECH ITEM THE OTHER DAY -- NO, NOT IN JAPAN, NOR IN SILICON VALLEY, BUT IN SASKATOON. THE CUTTING EDGE OF HIGH TECH HAIR FASHION IS LOCATED HERE IN CAROLYN SCHWAB'S SALON, AT 'THE MALL ON THIRD AVENUE'.

IN SASKATOON? THAT'S RIGHT. HERE IS WHAT IT IS AND HOW IT WORKS: FIRST THEY SIT YOU DOWN IN FRONT OF A COMPUTER SCREEN. A SMALL, UNOBTRUSIVE VIDEO CAMERA IMMEDIATELY PICKS UP YOUR IMAGE, DIGITALIZES SAME AND POPS IT UP ON THE PICTURE SCREEN.

THE NEXT STEP MAY BE A BIT UNNERVING. THEY PROCEED TO TAKE OFF ALL YOUR HAIR. NO, NOT FROM YOUR HEAD BUT FROM THE PICTURE ON THE SCREEN. THE ELECTRONIC ERASER. MAKES TELY SAVALAS LOOK LIKE A RELATIVE.

THE NEXT STEP SOUNDS EASY, BUT SOME DON'T FIND IT THAT SIMPLE. YOU ARE SHOWN 155 DIFFERENT HAIRSTYLES (THE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE DATA BASE FOR LADIES). THESE ARE THEN APPLIED ELECTRONICALLY TO YOUR "BALD AND FROZEN" SCREEN IMAGE. IT'S ONE WAY TO FIND OUT IF BLONDES REALLY DO HAVE MORE FUN.

AFTER YOU DECIDE WHICH STYLE SUITS YOU (THIS WEEK), THEY PHOTOGRAPH THE SCREEN IMAGE AND MATCH IT ON THE REAL YOU. THE CHARGE IS C$15 FOR TWO PICTURES (STYLES) TO SEE THE RESULTS BEFORE THEY START CUTTING. AND THERE IS A $5 REBATE OFF THE REGULAR HAIR STYLING CHARGE. MOST SEEM TO FEEL IT'S A GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR JUST $10. DURING THE FIRST TWO WEEKS -- WHEN MOST OF HER TIME WAS SPENT TALKING AND GIVING DEMONSTRATIONS TO LOCAL MEDIA -- CAROLYN STILL MANAGED TO FIT TEN CLIENTS INTO THE NEW SERVICE.

MORE NEW STYLES FOR BOTH MEN AND WOMEN WILL BE ADDED AFTER STAFF MASTER THE OPERATION OF THE NEW $23,000 CAMERA/COMPUTER PACKAGE.

NOW, THE REAL SMASHER. GUESS WHO THE FIRST THREE CLIENTS WERE? MEN !! NO, NOT FOR LADIES' HAIRSTYLES. THEY ALSO HAVE QUITE A FEW DIFFERENT STYLES FOR MEN. MAYBE MEN FIND HAIR STYLING BY MACHINES MORE MACHO?

SOFTWARE FOR SUCH PROGRAMS CAN ALSO BE USED IN SUCH DIVERSE FIELDS AS COSMETIC SURGERY AND LANDSCAPING. THIS SOFTWARE WAS DEVELOPED BY AT & T.

MORE INFORMATION: CAROLYN SCHWAB, "HAIR NOW" SALON, 124 - 3RD AVENUE NORTH, SASKATOON, SASKATCHEWAN. TEL 306/244-3663.

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