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Touchscreens go mainstream for Tokyo vending machines

By Sam Dunne - August 10, 2010

in Tech | Object Culture

The idea of touchscreen vending machines has been kicking around since the CES in 2009. You might remember the impressive display from the collaboration between Samsung and Coca Cola (on YouTube here) with their highly interactive 46-inch LCD slapped onto the front of their new machine. Safe to say, however, this hi-tech solution for simple cold beverage vending has, as yet, failed to take off.

All that could be about to change. It appears that vending machines of the touchscreen variety could be set to go mainstream in the gizmo-mad megalopolis of Tokyo, if the new machine of local vender aCure, installed today in Shinagawa Station, is anything to go by. Vending machines and touchscreens are coincidentally, perhaps, the two favourite things of the Japanese, so it was only a matter of time really.

We stumbled upon a growing crowd surrounding the newly installed contraption. It was causing quite a stir as, one-by-one, bashful salarymen plucked up the courage to go and put the machine through its paces for the benefit of the gawking crowds. Unfortunately, we weren't afforded much time with the machine, what with frought station staff shooing us apologetically along—the rush hour torrent fast approaching—but we did manage to grab a few snaps.

Amongst all the excitement we couldn't help but spare a thought for the thousands of (heaven forfend!) analogue venders, that are now, what with technology adoption rates in Japan, surely not long for this world.

more pics of Tokyo's new toy after the jump

Despite all the technology you, of course, still have to put your back out to get the can!

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PAul H

14 years ago

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Seems like a waste of energy, design devoid of thought and still it doesn't deliver the goods at a height convenient to the customer. Also it is a vandal target.
Why on earth would you need a screened graphic of a product that was actually visible in the old model? Dumb. Just dumb.
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Tarrax

14 years ago

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Actually, you might find it uses less power than traditional Vending Machines with glass fronts. More efficient insulation means less power used to keep things cool.
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Bug Stomper

14 years ago

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This morning I noticed that someone had kicked the YRT Ticket Vending Machine, last night. The machine has a touchscreen. Now the touchscreen has an impact mark where it was kicked.
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Guus Baggermans

14 years ago

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And still you have to crouch down and hurt your hand to get the product!

The onscreen vending machine might be smiling, but I don't know if that'll fix the problem...
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Luke J

14 years ago

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As you say, it may not have hit the mainstream here in the US, but there are murmurs of activity. The Briarwood Mall in Ann Arbor, MI has had a similar kind of unit for over 2 years now, taking the form of a Coke vending machine. The touchscreen is a similar 46", except oriented in portrait rather than landscape.
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Joel

14 years ago

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This seems like a step backwards for a device that's already a big (and often overlooked) energy hog...
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