Modern Day Vending Machines

Sony has come up with an innovative idea that may very well take the country by storm, as it takes advantage of the booming credit card industry as well as the ever-increasing desire for convenience within the American society.

These “robotic stores,” as Sony has termed them, are basically suped-up vending machines that accept credit cards. The vending machines have a clear panel in front of them, as with a traditional vending machine, which allows customers to view the products inside. These products range from cameras, to batteries, to Memory Stock flash memory, to MP3 players, CDs, and DVDs. In addition, customers can even watch video trailers and listen to music samples by using a touch screen on the vending machine.

The process of using these machines, which are slated to start showing up first in Georgia, California, and Colorado, is also simple. First, the customer swipes his or her credit card through the machine. The robotic arm selects the product and scans the code to make sure the correct product has been picked up. Finally, the machine charges the credit card and hands the product to the customer.

Since these high tech vending machines are hooked to the Internet, they are capable of reporting immediately to the main head quarters. In this way, Sony can keep track of sales and make sure the machines are kept properly stocked. Now, that is convenience at its highest level.

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