'Smart' Vending Machines Triple Sales

bossanovalithium writes "A vending machine in Japan which recommends drinks to customers based on facial recognition data has tripled sales. JR East Water Business has previously installed two vending machines in JR Shinagawa station and it is believed that the recognition technology is responsible for a vast increase in sales in comparison to traditional machines. The vending machines recommend beverages after physical attributes of customers are picked up by sensors which allow the machines determine age, sex and other attributes, before offering a number of suggestions."

Comments

Tea?

[Anonymous Coward]

Regardless of your age, sex, or other characteristics, the machines always produce a beverage almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea.

Re:Tea?

[Extremus]

However, if you stick a photo of Margareth Thatcher to your face, it will produce a beverage entirely like tea, but with poison in it.

Re:Tea?

[vlm]

Regardless of your age, sex, or other characteristics, the machines always produce a beverage almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea.

US version sticks to slightly diluted high fructose corn syrup.

Re:Tea?

[Chris Burke]

Whenever I use one of these they always either spit out a bottle of Clearasil, or a paper bag with eye holes cut out.

Re:Tea?

[ArsonSmith]

When I walked by it suggested diet soda or water and a jog around the park.

Re:Tea?

[TapeCutter]

Yeah, every time there is a story on these machines I'm reminded of the toaster in Red Dwarf.

"How about a cola"
No.
"Lemonade"
No, I'm not thirsty.
"Some sort of sweetened cabonated water"
I don't want a drink
"Maybe some iced tea will change your mind?"
No it won't.
"You don't like iced tea?"
I like iced tea.
"Please deposit $2 for your iced tea."

Apple User Detected

[Anonymous Coward]

Offer this person:

• Lube
• Retrovirals
• iPhone 5
• Justin Bieber Cover for iPhone 5
• Vending Machine Handjob

The possibilities are endless.

Listen you stupid machine!

[farlukar]

Listen you stupid machine, it tastes filthy! Here, take this cup back!

What do you mean, hemlock?

[zackhugh]

The sad thing is that my ex-girlfriend looked at my face and made the same recommendation. The sadder thing is that she was a machine too.

Sigh.

Re:Person

[Anonymous Coward]

Where's the '-1, Pretentious Twat' mod when you really need it?

Re:Huh?

[AnonymousClown]

Facial recognition? Japs? Same sentence?!?!?!

They say the same about us!

Well, I realized that I was a bigot when I was watching Battlestar Galactica. I couldn't tell the difference between the Asian actresses who played Boomer, Athena, and the various Number 8s.

So much for not being racist!

2G1C

[vlm]

The vending machines recommend beverages after physical attributes of customers are picked up by sensors which allow the machines determine age, sex and other attributes, before offering a number of suggestions.

What if there are multiple people in the photo? For example, if two girls are standing in front of the machine, does it offer them one cup?

Re:Vending machine industry in the USA is stagnant

[Obfuscant]

I can’t even remember the last time I had a bill rejected by one of those. It must have been at least several years ago.

The ones I have start being rejected when the ink cartridges in my printer get old/low. I guess the quality of the ink changes and no longer triggers the right detectors.

Some of this new super-bright paper stock also causes a lot of rejects.

Re:Lawsuit city!

[xclr8r]

I wonder how the construction hat with the 2 can holders and Y straw would go over there.