Feature: Displays
Although connectivity exists across most of the UK, for security purposes kiosks and vending machines are not allowed to use them
Daily life Vending machines have always been part of our lives, offering everyday items such as drinks and snacks but also high-value goods like watches and iPads in countries like
Japan.Technavio, the global technology research company, states that the intelligent vending machine market will grow by $9.33bn within two years. And vending technology continues to evolve, with the latest
machines engaging shoppers with flashy displays, touchscreen controls, video, audio, scent, gesture-based interactions and cashless payment. Today, they are also capitalising on wireless technologies like Bluetooth, 4G and 5G, NFC and QR codes to link up with users’ mobile phones and apps, bringing low- touch/no-touch interactions to keep infections at bay. Minimising physical contact with vending machines is now
Minimising touch in a post-Covid world
By Richard Bethell, Technical Director, Pacer, a Solid State Supplies company
O
ver the last two years or so, we’ve seen Covid-19 forcing many companies and sectors to re-evaluate their needs and those of their customers, as well as learn how to deal with similar challenges ahead. And with lockdowns now finished, we need to navigate life with
Covid and other infections, which means finding ways of ‘bug- proofing’ public spaces and systems, such as kiosks and vending machines, to keep us safe and healthy.
28 February 2023
www.electronicsworld.co.uk
essential. Presence, proximity and movement sensors play a big part here, detecting when a user approaches and recognising gestures instead of touches or button presses. For example, in systems where a customer can dispense their own refills, a mechanical dispensing mechanism can easily lead to cross- contamination. Optical, microwave or time-of-flight sensors provide no-touch sensing of receptacles to ensure that hygiene standards are maintained. Payment terminals are also a good example of the low-touch/
no-touch scenario, where a customer simply taps their card, without having to touch a keyboard. We continue to see cash payments dropping, especially since the pandemic, and the use of cards growing, with the maximum amount customers can pay in a single tap continually rising. Going forward, we expect these machines to become even
more sophisticated, using cameras, eye-movement sensors, AI and machine learning, to read people’s gestures and faces for ordering items. In addition to all these factors, with our increasing focus
on environmental problems, vending machines need to be green as well as hygienic. Kiosks that shut down their most energy-consuming functions and re-awaken when a customer approaches will reduce waste energy.
Connectivity For kiosks and vending machines to operate successfully, they also need reliable, well-connected networks. Although connectivity exists across most of the UK, for security purposes kiosks and vending machines are not allowed to use them,
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