Intel Makes a... High Tech Vending Machine?

By Marcus Yam
published

Big vending machine is watching you.

We know Intel for its CPUs and chipsets, but did you know that it also makes vending machines?

We saw the Intel Intelligent Vending System at the company's Computex booth, complete with an Intel branded sticker. What sets this machine apart from other vending machines is its massive touchscreen display for showing items for sale, prices, and other information.

Using a screen instead of a glass window has its obvious advantages, as the machine can display more information about the products and other advertisements. The tradeoff is that buyers can no longer see the product uncoil and fall to bottom of the machine, but that will also help put an end to the "coil malfunctions" when it doesn't work.

Perhaps the most startling feature of this machine is that it features a built-in camera that interfaces with facial recognition software that's able to determine the approximate age and sex of the buyer – potentially allowing the machine to alter its presentation according to tastes while providing valuable market information to the vendor.

All of this was powered with a Core 2 Duo chip.

Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam served as Tom's Hardware News Director during 2008-2014. He entered tech media in the late 90s and fondly remembers the days when an overclocked Celeron 300A and Voodoo2 SLI comprised a gaming rig with the ultimate street cred.
52 Comments Comment from the forums
  • The point of vending machines is to get your drink or item as quick and convenient as possible without stopping to read information in front of it. This will just be a novelty and pollute our minds and our environment.
    Reply
  • AMDnoob
    will they make an extreme edition that allows you to tweak how hard it throws the item at you?
    Reply
  • BrentonMcGhee
    but what will it be vending?
    Reply
  • dragonfang18
    If only it vends all sorts of components, enough to build a PC, and a variety of each... Kinda like a New egg vending machine. In doing so it probably will be too big to get stolen, just as long as its built like a tank.
    Reply
  • Kelavarus
    BrentonMcGheebut what will it be vending?
    Intel hardware? If the packaging was good enough, I could see Newegg vending machines.

    *nerdgasm*
    Reply
  • g-thor
    What it vends will be irrelevant. The information it harvests from the built-in camera is worth far more than the sales it will make. Maybe we'll have to start wearing masks when we want to buy a candy bar. Privacy concerns, don't you know.
    Reply
  • pangedit
    But will it vend Crysis?
    Reply
  • Whoever got paid to translate this to english should be fired.
    Reply
  • bipolargraph
    That's a nice big LCD screen...
    All it takes is a kid with a rock...
    Reply
  • shreeharsha
    Perhaps the most startling feature of this machine is that it features a built-in camera that interfaces with facial recognition software that's able to determine the approximate age and sex of the buyer

    but might not be intelligent enough to differentiate between a kid & a dwarf, or will detect a thin female as male....

    P.S., AMD might come with a more powerful (with Dual Phenom II X6 processor) vending machine concept, with a electronic cap connected to it (to be on user's head), which can sense users mind without even touching any screen, & displays required information.
    Reply