In pursuit of useless gadgets we came across one that may take the 2010 award, a company in Japan thought it was time to re-invigorate the vending machine market.
Rather than go down the robotics route, you’ve seen them, it’s where a robotic arm grabs the drink from the shelf and deposits it for you in the bottom.
Japanese company JR East decided that they would make their new vending machine a 47-inch touch screen display to show off the refreshing beverages, it holds, in full 1080p glory.
Other notable features are an embedded camera which will recognize your gender and age, allowing the machine to recommend a beverage suitable to whatever stereotype is attached to your particular circumstances.
It also got a rather clever brain too, it’ll store your purchasing history too, so you can be freaked out by tailored ads every time you use it.
500 more of these WiMax-equipped units are planned to be installed in and around Tokyo over the next two years, with operating company JR East expecting them to tally up 30 percent more sales than their analog archaic cousins. More bling equals higher revenue? Sounds about right.
There only available in the land of the rising sun, but don’t be freaked-out if the next vending machine you come across knows your name and offers you a dandelion & burdock.
Let us know what you think of these vending machines?
Via Engadget