These new Japanese vending machines use facial recognition technology to recommend to customers what they should drink. Equipped with a massive 1.2 m (47-inch) touchscreen display, the vending machine is embedded with a camera that gathers data on the individual approaching the device. The camera relays images to the machine's processor and approximates customer age and gender in order to display appropriate drink recommendations based on the data it captures.
The vending machine also uses external information such as time of day, temperature, and season. Using the data collected from weather information, the vending machine showcases products that are appropriate for the weather such as a cold can of lemonade on a sunny day or a hot coffee on a cold morning. The machine will suggest to a woman in her 20s, for example, a slightly sweeter beverage, based on the results of extensive market research.
The new vending machine is currently being installed throughout Tokyo's busy areas such as train stations and large malls, with plans for at least 500 machines throughout Japan.
Sources: tomsguide.com, telegraph.co.uk, & acure-fun.net
