New high-tech vending machines
offering free Wi-Fi hot spots in addition to selling soft drinks are to be
installed across Japan.
Asahi Soft Drinks is setting up 1,000
new vending machines in five regions around Japan this month, with a goal of
expanding the number to 10,000 within five years. The vending machines are
fitted with technology enabling Smartphone users who are standing within a
50m radius to enjoy free access to the internet. Users will not need
passwords or payment to access the Wi-Fi and will be able to enjoy uninterrupted internet access for
30 minutes sessions at a time.
Japan is home to the world's highest concentration of vending machines,
with as many as one for every 24 people across the country, according to the
Japan Vending Machine Manufacturers' Association. The nation's vending
machines, which mostly sell hot and cold drinks, are not only plentiful but
also high-tech, with a growing number boasting
the latest technology. The new Wi-Fi vending machines are the latest in a
growing selection of innovative
models which are appearing on street corners and railway platforms across the
country.
Tokyo is already home to a number of
touch screen vending machines which use facial recognition technology to anticipate the needs of the
customer. The technology fitted into the machines enable it to identify the
gender and age bracket of the consumer, before recommending an appropriate
drink from its available selection.
Meanwhile, Ito En, the Japanese tea
company, is also planning to introduce eco-friendly vending machines this
month, installing around 200 devices which consume 30 per cent less
electricity than conventional
power-saving models, according to the Nikkei.
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VOCABULARY
1.
Uninterrupted
(adj.) -
continuous
2.
Concentration
(n) - a
large number
3.
Innovative (adj.) - way of
doing something is new, different, and better than those that existed before
4.
Anticipate (v) - to expect that
something will happen and be ready for it
5.
Conventional
(adj.) - a
conventional method, product, practice etc has been used for a long time and is
considered the usual type
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
1. Discuss about
vending machines in your country.
2. How often do you use
it? What do you buy?
3. What are the advantages
and disadvantages of vending machines?
4. Do you think vending
machine with Wi-Fi hot spots is a good idea? Why?
5. If you were to make
your own vending machine, what would it be?
