Japaneses boffins have come out with a new vending machine that they claim can recognise faces and recommend drinks based on a customer's age and gender.A team at JR East Water Business Co, a subsidiary of railway firm JR East Co, has developed the new machines which use sensors to determine the characteristics of an approaching customer clearly.
'Recommended' labels then appear on specific drink products and suggested products may also change depending on the temperature and time of day, say its developers.
A spokeswoman was quoted by The Sun as saying, "If the customer is a man, the machine is likely to recommend a canned coffee drink, since men tend to prefer these. If the customer is in their 50s though, that recommendation is likely to be green tea.
"A woman in her 20s
will be recommended a tea drink or slightly sweeter product, since market research has shown that they prefer these.
"We thought it would make it a lot more fun for the customers to have this kind of interaction with our machines, that it would improve the whole buying experience.
The Japanese company has so far tested one machine at a Tokyo train station, but plans to add five more on Tuesday.
Now, the network will be expanded to other major stations and nearby suburban areas next year.
