Our editors have compiled a list of five strange, tech-related vending machines you don't see everyday, or at least we'd like to think. If we happened to miss any, please leave us a comment. "Continue reading" for the entire list.
Functional LEGO Vending Machine
Created by Anders, this fully-functional LEGO vending machine consists of four light sensors, four touch sensors, four motors, and two RCX's. It even has a coin-slot with the total amount being shown on an LCD display.
Moobella - The Robotic Ice Cream Vending Machine
The Moobella is a Linux-powered, ice cream vending machine that delivers ice cream "right on the spot" whenever you want. Choose from twelve different ice cream flavors and a variety mix-ins -- including M&M's, chocolate chips, peanut butter cups, and more.
[Source 1 via 2]
Call a Ball
Designed by Janis Pönisch, Sören Grünert, and Kirsten Hüsig, "Call a Ball" is a new concept in the form of a soccer ball vending machine -- users have to send an SMS to authorize the dispensing of a ball. Thanks to an RFID-chip embedded into each ball, the machine knows its location at all times.
If you want to find people with whom to play ball, all you have to do is register as a 'baseplayer' at one or more kiosks. Then send out an SMS containing the codeword 'Challenge' to the kiosks of your choice, which will then relay it to your teammates and opponents.
According to Rob Schloss, this vending machine is the "world's largest" and has nearly every food item you could want -- located in Strasbourg, France. Now this is something we need in our office.
High-Tech Japanese Vending Machine
Not all Japanese gadgets are strange, this high-tech vending machine sports a touchscreen display and even a built-in camera so you can watch the drink-dispensing process.
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There are 13 comments about this post (1 pages).
1
Posted at 12/07/2006 11:06am by
Starked SF, Unforgiving News from the Bay » Blog Archive » Talk of the Town: Thursday
[...] Five bizarre vending machines. [...]
2
Posted at 12/07/2006 8:04pm by
Ivan strator
sweet.
Universitys could use something like that one in France.
3
Posted at 12/08/2006 8:22pm by
its about time» Blog Archive » links for 2006-12-08
[...] TechEBlog » 5 Strange Vending Machines You Don’t See Everyday i like the lego one, and i love the fact that the icecream on is specifically mentioned as being run by linux:) (tags: vendingmachines quirky) [...]
4
Posted at 12/15/2006 05:50am by
我不喜欢-Blog » 5 Strange Vending Machines You Don’t See Everyday
[...] 原始文章/Original post and Wobuxihuan.org [...]
5
Posted at 01/21/2007 01:18am by
Shadyman
Looks like all the videos have been removed. I blame FARK for FARKing this post :)
6
Posted at 01/21/2007 08:35am by
Satch
No mention of McDonalds fry vending machine? The fries are frozen, and when you drop in the cash they're heated by air, so not only can you get waffle-cut fries (not available at any mcdonalds) but they're less greasy than normal fries.
That machine helped me get through college
7
Posted at 01/21/2007 12:42pm by
Dave Hutcheson
phuque the phwrench
8
Posted at 01/21/2007 4:33pm by
Social Twist » Blog Archive » Vending Machines of The Future!
[...] Check out the list here and let us know which was your favorite! [...]
9
Posted at 01/21/2007 4:58pm by
AyeRoxor
You keep putting Continue Reading in quotes. Why not brackets, or hashes? That would make just as much sense, but it would be flashier. Go for flashy.
10
Posted at 01/21/2007 5:16pm by
yoso
The YouTube contents are no longer functioning. Other than that, they were fun to see.
11
Posted at 01/21/2007 11:29pm by
Chris
The Supermarket-in-One Vending Machine in Strasbourg may be the largest in the world, but such a vending machine has been in use in Zurich's central trainstation for 10 years or more.
12
Posted at 01/22/2007 03:29am by
Technorama » Map of the Inside of the Millennium Falcon
[...] 5 Strange Vending Machines You Don’t See Everyday via Digg [...]
13
Posted at 01/29/2007 4:24pm by
free online game - Uttaruk.com » Lists
[...] 5 Strange Vending Machines You Don?t See Everyday [...]
There are 13 comments about this post (1 pages).