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CNN Saturday Morning News

Latest in Vending

Aired October 19, 2002 - 09:52   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: They've become a fixture in today's busy world, vending machines, candy bars, potato chips, (UNINTELLIGIBLE), you know, all the junk food. Some days you may end up making a whole meal out of a vending machine, but snacks and soft drinks just a tip of the iceberg.
Technology correspondent Daniel Sieberg has a look with what's you've been dying to know, what is the latest in vending -- Daniel.

DANIEL SIEBERG, CNN TECHNOLOGY CORRESPONDENT: You know, maybe people didn't know this (UNINTELLIGIBLE) a lot of vending machine technology out there. And typically at a convention, you know, you have to leave the show floor to go find a vending machine when you get hungry.

That's not the case at a convention that we went to, where all you can see are vending machines. And nowadays, you can find almost anything at a vending machine. We've got a lot of items here, everything from the usual food items to toiletries like a toothbrush. We see drinks here and chips, of course, even DVDs and CDs are available, and cameras in vending machines these days.

The expo is a great way to look at vending technology for the past, the present, and even the future. In fact, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) this new vending machine from Pepsi takes credit cards as well as cash and transmits the payment over an e wireless connection. It even takes cards from other countries, as long as they're recognized worldwide, like American Express, Visa, and MasterCard, and others.

And you'll continue to see machines like this more and more coming out with credit card capabilities as they look for ways to make it easier for consumers to buy their products.

This next machine we looked at is also cashless. It uses a device called a pay key that fits on your keychain and allows you to pay for products without needing to put money in the machine every time, something we can all relate to. So whenever you use any vending machine that's equipped to accept a pay key, it actually uses the amount on your key to pay for your order. And if your key is running low, you can even add money to the key at any similar vending machine.

So some people may find it very convenient, of course. And we actually have an example of some of the pay keys here that can fit easily on your keychain. They even come in a variety of different colors.

And so that's something that people might be interested in looking at.

O'BRIEN: OK. Well, what about technology to make the deliveries more efficient?

SIEBERG: Yes, this is something that people may be worrying about, getting this machines up to date. There's a couple of companies, one called MEI and one called Buzz Box, who are addressing issues like this. And vending machines would be outfitted with a transmission device, and from their trucks, using a handheld device to receive the signal, drivers have been able to quickly identify which products are running low or are empty before leaving the truck.

They then get a printout that tells them everything from if the change is low to if the machine needs servicing. This is definitely a new way to use technology to make vendors and drivers more efficient and, of course, keep customers happy.

Vending is even getting into the movie business. There does not exactly replace Blockbuster, but you can buy DVDs and CDS at the Cinemachine from USA Technologies. We'll begin to see these machines popping up at university campuses throughout the U.S., and even at some movie theaters offering CDs linked to movie releases.

The Cinemachine even shows previews and trailers on a small screen attached to the device. The items cost about the same as a major retailer, and you can pay with your credit card. So movie companies are even on board with this technology.

O'BRIEN: All right. Vending machines have come a long way. They had some old machines there too?

SIEBERG: They did, they had a vending machine museum. They had all sorts of technology that they were showing off and how far it's come. In fact, vending machines have been around for centuries in some form or another. But ones similar to those that we're accustomed to are only about decades old. The museum exhibit showed us some cool examples of the evolution of machines, from a wooden floor model to ones we're accustomed to seeing from the '50s and '60s to the latest in vending technology.

Now, to offset some of the costs associated with creating the elaborate new vending setups we're seeing today, screens attached to some of the machines could actually feature advertisements and movie previews.

O'BRIEN: Oh, good, we need some more ads.

SIEBERG: Just what you need, right more ads.

You should begin seeing more machines like these in airports and college campuses throughout the U.S.

O'BRIEN: All right, so what's the big question on everybody's mind, the future of vending.

SIEBERG: Right, the future of vending. You know, we talked to some people there, and we -- according to Professor Michael Kasavana at Michigan State University, look for more (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...

O'BRIEN: Professor of vendology?

SIEBERG: Professor of (UNINTELLIGIBLE) -- he looks at the trends...

O'BRIEN: Yes, yes.

SIEBERG: ... in vending, believe it or not, there is such a thing. And he says to look for more custom ordering capabilities, like machines that can make sandwiches just the way you like it while you wait. And more restaurants will also be getting into the game.

And he mentioned some upcoming security enhancements to keep people below drinking and smoking age from buying alcohol and tobacco from vending machines.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL KASAVANA, MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY: There are several companies trying to work out ways using either biometrics in combination with a driver's license, a faceprint, some kind of recognition where you'd be able to have your age verified based on some type of technology capture.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIEBERG: And, of course, a growing trend in parts of Europe and Asia is to use other gadgets like cell phones and pagers and other devices to buy something at a vending machine. So all sorts of technology out there for vending machines. Who knew that's that's where...

O'BRIEN: Who knew.

SIEBERG: ... it's (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...

O'BRIEN: All right, Daniel Sieberg, thank you very much.

SIEBERG: Thanks.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired October 19, 2002 - 09:52   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: They've become a fixture in today's busy world, vending machines, candy bars, potato chips, (UNINTELLIGIBLE), you know, all the junk food. Some days you may end up making a whole meal out of a vending machine, but snacks and soft drinks just a tip of the iceberg.
Technology correspondent Daniel Sieberg has a look with what's you've been dying to know, what is the latest in vending -- Daniel.

DANIEL SIEBERG, CNN TECHNOLOGY CORRESPONDENT: You know, maybe people didn't know this (UNINTELLIGIBLE) a lot of vending machine technology out there. And typically at a convention, you know, you have to leave the show floor to go find a vending machine when you get hungry.

That's not the case at a convention that we went to, where all you can see are vending machines. And nowadays, you can find almost anything at a vending machine. We've got a lot of items here, everything from the usual food items to toiletries like a toothbrush. We see drinks here and chips, of course, even DVDs and CDs are available, and cameras in vending machines these days.

The expo is a great way to look at vending technology for the past, the present, and even the future. In fact, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) this new vending machine from Pepsi takes credit cards as well as cash and transmits the payment over an e wireless connection. It even takes cards from other countries, as long as they're recognized worldwide, like American Express, Visa, and MasterCard, and others.

And you'll continue to see machines like this more and more coming out with credit card capabilities as they look for ways to make it easier for consumers to buy their products.

This next machine we looked at is also cashless. It uses a device called a pay key that fits on your keychain and allows you to pay for products without needing to put money in the machine every time, something we can all relate to. So whenever you use any vending machine that's equipped to accept a pay key, it actually uses the amount on your key to pay for your order. And if your key is running low, you can even add money to the key at any similar vending machine.

So some people may find it very convenient, of course. And we actually have an example of some of the pay keys here that can fit easily on your keychain. They even come in a variety of different colors.

And so that's something that people might be interested in looking at.

O'BRIEN: OK. Well, what about technology to make the deliveries more efficient?

SIEBERG: Yes, this is something that people may be worrying about, getting this machines up to date. There's a couple of companies, one called MEI and one called Buzz Box, who are addressing issues like this. And vending machines would be outfitted with a transmission device, and from their trucks, using a handheld device to receive the signal, drivers have been able to quickly identify which products are running low or are empty before leaving the truck.

They then get a printout that tells them everything from if the change is low to if the machine needs servicing. This is definitely a new way to use technology to make vendors and drivers more efficient and, of course, keep customers happy.

Vending is even getting into the movie business. There does not exactly replace Blockbuster, but you can buy DVDs and CDS at the Cinemachine from USA Technologies. We'll begin to see these machines popping up at university campuses throughout the U.S., and even at some movie theaters offering CDs linked to movie releases.

The Cinemachine even shows previews and trailers on a small screen attached to the device. The items cost about the same as a major retailer, and you can pay with your credit card. So movie companies are even on board with this technology.

O'BRIEN: All right. Vending machines have come a long way. They had some old machines there too?

SIEBERG: They did, they had a vending machine museum. They had all sorts of technology that they were showing off and how far it's come. In fact, vending machines have been around for centuries in some form or another. But ones similar to those that we're accustomed to are only about decades old. The museum exhibit showed us some cool examples of the evolution of machines, from a wooden floor model to ones we're accustomed to seeing from the '50s and '60s to the latest in vending technology.

Now, to offset some of the costs associated with creating the elaborate new vending setups we're seeing today, screens attached to some of the machines could actually feature advertisements and movie previews.

O'BRIEN: Oh, good, we need some more ads.

SIEBERG: Just what you need, right more ads.

You should begin seeing more machines like these in airports and college campuses throughout the U.S.

O'BRIEN: All right, so what's the big question on everybody's mind, the future of vending.

SIEBERG: Right, the future of vending. You know, we talked to some people there, and we -- according to Professor Michael Kasavana at Michigan State University, look for more (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...

O'BRIEN: Professor of vendology?

SIEBERG: Professor of (UNINTELLIGIBLE) -- he looks at the trends...

O'BRIEN: Yes, yes.

SIEBERG: ... in vending, believe it or not, there is such a thing. And he says to look for more custom ordering capabilities, like machines that can make sandwiches just the way you like it while you wait. And more restaurants will also be getting into the game.

And he mentioned some upcoming security enhancements to keep people below drinking and smoking age from buying alcohol and tobacco from vending machines.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL KASAVANA, MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY: There are several companies trying to work out ways using either biometrics in combination with a driver's license, a faceprint, some kind of recognition where you'd be able to have your age verified based on some type of technology capture.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIEBERG: And, of course, a growing trend in parts of Europe and Asia is to use other gadgets like cell phones and pagers and other devices to buy something at a vending machine. So all sorts of technology out there for vending machines. Who knew that's that's where...

O'BRIEN: Who knew.

SIEBERG: ... it's (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...

O'BRIEN: All right, Daniel Sieberg, thank you very much.

SIEBERG: Thanks.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com