Sapient's touchscreen Coke machine brings pop into the 21st century
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted Jan 16th 2009 7:04PM
posted Jan 16th 2009 7:04PM
Man, it just isn't fair -- we keep seeing all these kick-ass new vending machines, but when we want a can of Mr. Pibb or RC Cola we're stuck feeding quarters into something that looks like it was last serviced whenever Pac-Man Fever went storming up the charts. Then again, that's probably what we get for spending all our time in pool halls and bowling alleys. If you're lucky enough to head to one of the 190-plus (and growing!) malls owned by the Simon Property Group sometime in the not too distant future, you just might have the pleasure of getting your cold, satisfying beverage from one of the new-fashioned touch screen Coke machines from Sapient. The screen is pretty much the entire front of the machine, and the interface is simple (as you'd expect), but pretty cool nonetheless -- select your pop bottle, spin it around, take a look at the ingredients, and vend -- quasi-Minority Report-style. "Futuretistic," no? This thing takes cash and plastic, and it should be out in the US soon enough -- readers in Europe and the UK will have to wait until sometime in 2010 to get in on the action. Video after the break.
[Thanks, Trent]
[Thanks, Trent]
God bless American excess!
Finally soon I will be able to use my debit card to get a drink. Because honestly how many of you carry cash these days.
You got that right.
Pop? :/ It is called Coke.
@Cdice
Pop is what we call it in the midwest
And they though it was expensive when vandals kicked in the front of the old ones...
Really, I'm just happy there was a Pibb mention...
i will never ever call pop coke, because coke does not make anything worth drinking, other than maybe barq's, but even that isn't as good as other root beers (the only good thing is the caffeine)
The "Simon Malls"
just google it... "Simon Malls"
http://www.simon.com/
"in the Europe"
Sounds like something Borat would say. I like.
the more i read it the harder it is to know whether he did it on purpose or not. lol
It says, "the Europe and UK."
It should be '"the UK" just like the U.S. I think they were going to say European Union but they're probably limey bastards who refuse to accept continental kinship.
Stupid Limey!
Yeah... for the Yankies, it's "the" Europe, for the rest of the world... just Europe will do.
It's always nice to see unprovoked, inexplicable xenophobia. Prestor John, I think my foot feels 'continental kinship' with your ass.
His Dad's cock probably already beat you to it.
"readers in Europe and the UK will have to wait"
So... when has the UK separated from Europe?
I'm intrigued.
Neither geographically has it moved into the middle of the ocean, neither has it decided to leave the European Union.
Or at least that what I've known until now...
Just to clear things up UK stands for UKraine.
Ok i had to sign up because you guys were basically chatting shit, the guy clearly said "come to Europe i.e the U.K, sometime in 2010" meaning he is talking about the U.K secifically but just said Europe as U.K is part of Europe geographically. right from the first guy with the borat joke "ILoveApple" to "Dick"(they let you make a name like that?) i can't believe you all got it wrong.
Lipstick on a pig.
does that even apply?
no
Yeah pop! Down with soda.
Seriously... "pop"?
It's soda. Silly Northerners. Next you'll be saying "whippersnappers" and "horseless carriages."
I remember I was in New York once, I was at a restaurant, so I asked them if they had any "pop", the waiter just looked at me like I was some kind of crazy person.
i live in norther ohio, and i have never used the word 'soda' in my life, with the exception of making fun of it, because, clearly, the proper word is 'pop' :D
Pop is the way to go! Ask for a Coke here in the midwest, you get a Coke! I remember when I was younger we went on vacation and my mom asked for a Coke at some fancy place and the waiter said "We have Coca-Cola, Dr. Pepper, Sprite, Ect." My dad said... I want A Coke. She caught on and said "Oh okay, a Coca Cola." Then explained that "Soda" is often referred to as "Coke" here. My dad grew up in the midwest so he didn't get it, my mom was laughing the whole time.
No its soft drink. Both pop and soda sound stupid to me
Outside of the US, pop is nothing more than an onomatopoeia and soda is just part of various phrases; eg baking soda.
Why waste time saying "Co-ca-co-la" when it's faster and more efficient to just say "Coke"?
I think you misunderstood his story...
@ Sanalissnail
Not true, we call carbonated drinks 'pop' here in the UK, at least in my part.
You're in the wrong forum. Vote here instead:
http://popvssoda.com:2998/
Pop and RC Cola, someone's from the Midwest!!!
Upstate New Yorkers also say Pop.
don't you mean western new yorkers?
when i got to buffalo i hear pop and sucker but when i'm in the capital district (the true upstate) i hear soda and lollipop...the way god intended it to be said
like hell we do
(j/k)
Is it me, or does it seem odd that amid an economic crisis, and an energy crisis in the states, Coke is rolling out these new vending machines. Giant touchscreens running 24/7 seem like a frivolous waste of energy...innovation that we don't need.
What energy crisis??? did i miss something?
Wait for the Time article
"We're all going to die, and it's Coke's fault"
Pfft. Such machines have lead times of several years. Besides, demand for coke is pretty inelastic, ppl will always the dollar left for that refreshing can of coke!
You can find a pop machine that only takes a dollar? The last place I could put a dollar in a machine and get a pop was my High School, and since graduating that has changed.
No, it's not just you and anyone who doesn't acknowledge it is irresponsible.
I'm sure they are energy-saving plasma screens that only use 1.5 KW/h.
Now we can see ads on vending machines too.
see that giant picture of a coke bottle that's on the machine at the minute...that is an ad...
What if the vending machines play commercial video not just for Coke.
Hi guys, whats up?
Oh my, comment system fails me again.
I meant to have the name osm, to play with mos and smo, and failed. Down rank me all the way please.
And THAT'S why there is a new touchscreen vending machine.
What's wrong with normal vending machines?
Someone asking THAT shouldn't be at engadget.com....
Doesn't take credit/debit cards. Doesn't accept online payment systems. Does not play jingles while vending. Slow (not Japanese ones though). Do not have a network connection so they may report when empty. Not cold enough. Not ecofriendly. I have a lot of things on my wishlist.
Okay, this is great and all, but if it's anything like my work, I'll end up with Diet Coke when I pressed regular Coke. Now, if it let me shove it back up into the machine, then I'm in.
Yeah, but what stopping you from shoving an empty bottle in there to get free soda?
@bill cant fart
Put a preview window on there, and require you to pull open a little door. Once its been opened, no returns.
The first company to do that would definitely get my business. I get so pissed off when I get the wrong pop (yes, pop, not soda). Especially when its diet. Gross. Who drinks that shit? (aside from diabetics and fat people)
What the FUCK is pop?
Soda man FOR LIFE.
Dude, its called Pop in the MidWest !!
Yeah just wait till these things have the same vending problems as old machines. You really want them banging a touchscreen vs some plastic buttons?
How much you want to bet that last a full week before it's been busted to shit by your local teenagers or homeless people trying to get their damn pop after it eats their money.
The precogs predict that you would like a Sprite instead, also exact change only.
the answer to a question no one asked
Its SODA not stupid crappy pop
Futuretistic? What does the future of autism hold?
Umm...
Am I the only one who noticed that Coke is moving to Aluminum bottles; and going back to the good old days of the 8oz serving?
Sweet.
Isn't that the same one that was at the Samsung booth at CES?
sadly the video ends seconds before he opens that well shaken bottle...
Interesting. Although I'd bet any money the "return change" button is still a manual button that requires superhuman strength to push.
Sweet, the mall at work at is owned by Simon! Now I have to ask myself if I have enough geek in me to acquire diabetes to be part of the future. D:
... And when it fails to dispense someone's soda, how many cracked screens do you think we'll have?
AWESOME!
Thing is, I prefer the manual buttons. I pop in some quarters, and punch that sucka to get my soda! Almost as satisfying as the actual beverage.
Just give me a vending machine that accepts debit cards, then I'll be a happy man.
This is stupid. Regular old machines already are able to take credit cards, even wireless paypass. People playing around with this thing, and the screen eventually breaking will just lead to lower sales.
really-where?!?
i've yet to see this (especially with RF payments!)
I have seen the machines with debit/paypass readers at Six Flags Great Adventure in NJ, as well as the local mall here in East Lansing, Michigan.
smo got his ass kicked, js...
yeah, that doesn't make them "regular," that's only a few of them
also, you kind of need to be able to use a card at six flags, because a 20oz bottle is what, like $3.50 or something there?
They have them at every college campus I have ever been to
People will just start stealing the coke machines for the screens.
Yeah, next time I am around a pop machine I will just pick it up and throw it in my trunk. Have you ever tried to even move one of those things? A fully loaded pop machine is next to impossible to even move.
i can't wait till someone gets mad when their soda doesn't come....then breaks the screen when hitting and shaking the machine :) i think its great that soda machines will accept debit/credit cards but whats the point of the touch screen? only makes it a more expensive expense and the same amount of people will buy the soda, etc. They should leave them the same and then only include the card option. Thats just a business stand point of view though, don't think the flash of the touchscreen will cause an increase in sales, only more problems and cost when they break, etc. The card though - that will greatly help cuz i can't stand cash only machines as i never carry cash anymore.
I want those Japanese style vending machines. They sometimes have a touchscreen, but more importantly: hot drinks.
Yes, who cares about touchscreens if you can only buy ice-cold drinks during winter.
Cool, they look fun.
Thing is, I wonder how well those wondrous screens are going to hold up once the droogies, thugs and juvie-bound angry young men decide to pay back society for all their pain by smashing, scarring or graffitiing all over our last best hope for a refreshing beverage?
Ah . . . that sounds mean of me doesn't it. People aren't really like that. I'm sorry.
—"By the way Marge, I was being sarcastic."
Nice, the two malls here are Simon ones, hopefully I can see one of these soon. I'm a Pepsi guy, but I might try a Coke once for this. ;-) I saw the Bottle was different from the standard plastic one, is it metal? I guess the question is if it is going to vend normal plastic bottles or if it requires those special ones. Also, this will bring the whole "computer" saga to a whole new market.
"Hey bob, did you get me the Coke I asked for?"
"Nah, the pop machine was frozen, I kept pushing the button until it spit out 20 Dr. Peppers and then crashed."
"Wow, thats intense."
"Yeah, want a Dr. Pepper?"
Now if they can just make these spray chemicals at people to sedate them after beating on the machine for getting the wrong thing, then calling the cops and taking custody of their kids, that'd be great! That, and when they start vending extra big-a$$ fries to go with the soda.
And only if Coke is what plants crave.
The irony here is unbelievable! Can touchscreen technology sink any lower?? Of all things someone could view and rotate and play around with to learn more about, they choose the MOST RECOGNIZED NAME ON EARTH. Who the hell needs to spin around a model of a coke??? Seriously, kids living in the jungle know what a freaking coke is!
"HOLY SHIT! What is that! Some sort of space beverage. I MUST HAVE ONE!"
'BILL WAIT! WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE FROM BEHIND!"
"You're right, we better spin it..."
"ommggggggg!"
Simon malls ya! I got one here in San Diego. Kool
If the great unwashed of Engadget is already wondering about smashed screens, the engineers have already thought of reinforcement methods. I'm not naive enough to think they'll be bulletproof, but I'm also not naive enough to think they'll put a machine out there that you can simply break with your Coke can. Come on.
Ridiculously unnecessary.
so how long until someone figures out how to hack these?
It's called soda you morons.
yeah right... another damn thing to break. honestly, how many of you went up to a coke machine and it didnt work? probably 4 out of 10 times at least
You'd think they'd design a better way of handing it to the customer instead of dropping it at their feet.
Just more to go wrong with the machine
Windows powered you reckon?
Well I doubt it'll be iPhone OS powered...
Well steve is ill you know, give him some time to recover and get into the game again.
2010, bloody hell.
Then again, I wasn't exactly expecting anything else.