Vending machines used to supply holy water to Egyptian temples in the ancient times!
Several tools and gadgets have been invented till date to make our lives more comfortable. One such amazing invention is the vending machine, that we use to grab our sodas and coffees and various other purposes. This is an automated device for selling goods, such as food, drinks, cigarettes and lottery tickets, in exchange for cash, credit cards or other means of payment. But did you know that the earliest vending machine we can think of dates to the 1st century AD? The Greek mathematician Heron of Alexandria (also known as Hero), created a machine that supplied holy water within Egyptian temples in exchange for gold coins. The coin activated the device causing a vessel to topple over and pour holy water. Now, let’s dive further into few interesting facts about vending machines!
When was first modern vending machine invented?
The first modernised and patented vending machine was aimed to distribute postcards and was invented by Englishman Percival Everett in 1883 in the United Kingdom. His vending machine quickly gained popularity and was placed at post offices and railroad stations. In the 19th century, vending machines were utilised commercially in England to sell tobacco and snuff out of coin-operated ‘honour boxes’. The Sweetmeat Automatic Delivery Company, established in 1887, was the first business to focus entirely on installing and maintaining vending machines. In the United States, the first commercial usage of vending machines began in 1888 to sell chewing gum in isolated and far-off areas, such as the platforms of the New York City elevated railway.
The emergence of solar-powered vending machine
Many companies have begun designing solar-powered vending machines to preserve beverages in the most sustainable manner possible. These devices will be a lifesaver for those who live or travel in remote, off-grid areas. The solar vending machine device has effective refrigeration technology that can preserve food and beverages for hours. The top part of the machine has solar panels that convert solar energy to electricity. The device uses electricity to operate and to refill a battery that allows it to continue operating at night and on cloudy or rainy days. An inbuilt wind turbine can substitute solar energy in regions where the sun light reaches ground infrequently.
The future of vending machines: Artificial Intelligence
Smart vending machines are the newest trend, offering features such as digital payments, facial, eye or fingerprint recognition and social network connectivity. Particularly, vending machines in Tokyo are increasingly using modern technology with face-scanning software. Equipped with large touch-panel screens with sensors, these vending machines were invented in 2020 by JR East Water Business Co, a subsidiary of the railway company JR East Co, to identify the features of an approaching consumer. They can scan customers’ faces and recommend drinks depending on their age and gender. How amazing! Future vending machines may identify you and modify their products based on your preferences and tastes too. For instance, a beverage vending machine might ask whether you want your regular ‘skim latte with a double shot of vanilla’ after analysing what you have previously ordered at other machines!