There are a ton of vending machines in Japan, but we can’t help but feel a little extra excitement when we come across one from beverage maker DyDo. While they’re still mechanical merchants, DyDo’s machines often have a little more personality, since many are equipped with a speaker that thanks you in the regional dialect of DyDo’s home prefecture of Osaka, and in the past it’s made vending machines that also give you a motivational message or loan you a free umbrella on rainy days.
Now DyDo’s vending machines are set to become even friendlier with a new function that allows you to make purchases by facial recognition.
As part of a joint project with tech giant NEC, DyDo has begun equipping vending machines with NEC’s Bio-IDiom facial recognition systems. By creating an account (via your smartphone) and registering your photo and credit card, the machine lets you use your face to buy drinks, with no need to insert any coins or bills or use any sort of prepaid IC card.
▼ The facial recognition machines have a special panel next to the product display area.
In addition to a facial scan, you’ll also have to enter a four-digit code number (chosen when you create your account) to complete the purchase. Ostensibly, this should prevent your less scrupulous acquaintances from knocking you out and propping you up in front of the machine to score free drinks like super-cheap super spies.
The machines are already in use at select DyDo and NEC offices and factories as part of a three-month trial. If all goes well, the next step would be introducing them to the open market.
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- External Link
- https://soranews24.com/2020/07/08/japanese-vending-machines-will-now-let-your-buy-things-using-your-face/
11 Comments
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rainyday
Nope, nope, nope, nope.
Speed
Thanks but I'll just use a coupla coins.
Beto Ramirez
More ways to invade privacy. There’s nothing safe about this crud
Harry_Gatto
As JT is read by many whose first language isn't English perhaps a better phrase could be chosen to point out that Japan has lots of vending machines?
Mocheake
No thanks. I never register any body part with an outside source unless I am forced to do so. Their drinks are nothing special anyway.
Jonathan Prin
So instead of using a card, you'll have to remember a 4 digit number. One more. Not for me.
Goodlucktoyou
Schoolboy Bullies can grab the nerd and raid the machine, all charged to the victims parents credit card.
rainyday
The annoying thing about this, beside the obvious privacy concerns, is how so much engineering research and skill has been expended to accomplish the task of making drink machines more inconvenient to use.
Putting coins into a machine or swiping a card is a lot easier than a stupid two step process of having your face scanned and then entering a 4 digit code you have to remember. So they've taken something that was easy to use and made it more difficult, without creating any other benefit to justify the increased difficulty.
No, they aren't. They are set to become more of a hassle to use. And way creepier. Nobody stands to gain anything out of this.
commanteer
China is miles ahead in this regard. Maybe we can wait and watch, see how things develop there before using too much of this here.
50YearOldNoviceGymMan
Hopefully it doesn't trigger as you walk by.