Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

UCSD Biometric Vending Machine

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the tracking-your-soda-habits dept.

dice writes to tell us that grad students at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) are creating the first biometric vending machine. The current machine comes equipped with a barcode scanner, a fingerprint reader, and a web cam for facial recognition. One student dubbed it the "most over-designed soda machine in the world." The project, code-named "SodaVision," is the brainchild of associate professor Stefan Savage, but it was the students who really made it come to life. And yes, it runs Linux.

11 of 144 comments (clear)

  1. So, does this mean... by fragmentate · · Score: 3, Funny
    ...I won't get my $.50 back now when I flip off the soda machine every time it chomps my coins? Or, is the snack machine going to recognize my frustration, and shake the stuck bag of Cheetos loose for me?

    People sure have a lot of time on their hands!

    --
    My ZooLoo
  2. afraid to vote.. by qewl · · Score: 4, Funny

    Let me be the first to say, I'd be afraid to vote on that thing. Especially libertarian..

    --

    (\_/)
    (O.o) This is Bunny. (> <)
  3. *sighs* by Whiney+Mac+Fanboy · · Score: 4, Funny
    from tfa:

    Stick your thumb on the reader so the machine recognizes you as having an account, take out the drink, scan it with the barcode reader, then walk way


    Lucky students are notoriously honest.
    --
    There are shills on slashdot. Apparently, I'm one of them.
  4. Many Mountain Dews... by demonbug · · Score: 4, Funny

    were killed to bring us this device.

    Seems really pointless when you think of vending machines that sell soft drinks and snacks, but I guess there could be a use for more-secure vending machines for higher-dollar items (like the one selling iPods I saw a month or two back).

  5. Hmm.. by yourOneManArmy · · Score: 5, Funny

    When I read the summary I thought, "Hey this sounds pretty useless, but maybe I just missed something." Then I read the article, and I'm still thinking, "Hey this sounds pretty useless."

    1. Re:Hmm.. by heinousjay · · Score: 5, Funny

      There is absolutely nothing wrong with science for science's sake. This, however, was engineering for engineering's sake, which is one of the most evil forces in the universe.

      --
      Slashdot - where whining about luck is the new way to make the world you want.
  6. Well my toaster runs NetBSD! by saterdaies · · Score: 4, Funny

    This project is nothing! Linux on a soda machine? I've had NetBSD running on my toaster for years ;)

    1. Re:Well my toaster runs NetBSD! by geekoid · · Score: 3, Funny

      You got your toaster to dispense soda? sweet!

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  7. A better feature for this device by Durrok · · Score: 5, Funny

    Hello! Thank you for using soda vision! You have ingested: 250 grams of sugar today, 1,800 grams of sugar this week, and 7,212 grams this month for a grand total of 15.9 lbs! Congratulations, you are a candidate for TYPE A Diabetes!

    --
    I keep telling myself I'm not the desperate type.
  8. Fortunately... by Black+Parrot · · Score: 3, Funny

    > And yes, it runs Linux.

    Fortunately they haven't been able to find a driver for the anal probe.

    --
    Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
  9. Re:Why didn't they try areola recognition? by pintpusher · · Score: 3, Funny

    umm... the CS dept created it. no test subjects.

    --
    man, I feel like mold.