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REPARTEE: Talking ice tea-dispensing vending machine Bev considers a request. Photo: JEFFREY ABRAHAMS
Ali Karp
WITH just 140 characters on Twitter, you can let the world know exactly what you’re up to.
Now, it can also get you tea.
Welcome to smart technology that local company, Bos, which manufactures ice tea, has taken to the streets thanks to Bev, a Twitter-activated vending machine.
Visitors to Wembley Square were surprised to see the talking machine offering them free drinks in exchange for a tweet.
Bev is the first of its kind and was displayed at the Design Indaba at the CTICC earlier this year.
The machine is characterised by an electronic sound-activated LED screen which greets its visitors with: “You look thirsty, human. Allow me to help you.”
The initial greeting is then followed by quirky instructions on how to retrieve your complimentary tea with the help of your cellphone.
Bev is equipped with smart technology that recognises your geographical location through your cellphone and its Twitter application before dispensing goods, confirming that you are in fact standing next to “her”.
Instead of being token-activated, Bev requires that you connect to your mobile Twitter application and tweet the appropriate hash tag as instructed.
If your tweet is recognised as being in the same location as Bev, a chilled tea will be dispensed.
That’s not all: the vending machine has been jazzed up with several other quirky personality traits.
It can also make eccentric buzzing and whizzing noises, as well as speak a few phrases once the tea has been dispensed.
ali.karp@inl.co.za
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