Change for the Vending Machine
By David Kolman
Good old vending machines. They’re everywhere, and they welcome friends.
I can’t count the number of times I’ve arrived at a facility after hours, figuring I’d get a bit to eat at a local eatery or grab some goodies at a service station/mini mart, only to find nothing around or open. But there, glowing in the dark, were vending machines with an assortment of drinks and tasty snacks.
Now technology is changing the vending machine, just like it changes everything. There are machines being developed to deliver fresh hot pizza cooked in 90 seconds. Others are being designed to help out parents with young children by providing diapers, baby bottles and toys. And, as you would expect, there are vending machines under development to deliver a wide range of nutritionally balanced products.
There are even vending machines that are using interactive technology that provides 360 degree views of products. (Not sure why this is being done. We know what food looks like.)
You may not be aware of it, but already in use are vending machines that save energy by incorporate energy miser programs and LED lights.
Newer vending machines will accept credit and debit cards. My guess is that it will be only a matter of time before vending machines no longer accept coins.
For me, part of the enjoyment of vending machines was popping in coin after coin. It’s like playing a slot machine. Only when I pressed a button, I actually “won” something.
“Technology is a way of organizing the universe so that man doesn’t have to experience it.” I can’t recall who said that, but how true.
Now the question is: What am I supposed to do with all the change that I carry with me when trucking?
