This poor Vending Machine is badly damaged.
Fortunately there is so much love around and hopefully the residents there can enjoy Coke again soon!
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Mysterious Vending Machine
Blending in with the surrounding townscape, the door to the uninitiated eye looks precisely like a vending machine. The fact that a genuine real vending machine is installed only 2 meters away, and lit up at night, only adds to the general confusion.
Inevitably, some passers-by, duped into believing the vending machine is real, attempt to insert coins to buy a drink.
On closer inspection, the door reveals the word “Push,” but otherwise there is no store name, sign or even a menu displayed to give any hint of what’s on the other side.
This is actually a pub, but even people in the neighborhood remained unsure where the eatery was located.
For a while, Takata, the owner feared the location of his premises might prove too confusing to attract a steady flow of customers. But now he is confident his business will prosper, especially after it featured on social media and television shows.
Other Vending Machine Applications
MrBeast’s Gumball Machine
MrBeast, creator of YouTube’s Mr. Beast, displayed the world’s largest gumball machine at Vidcon in Los Angeles. A prize was awarded when fans placed a giant coin made specifically for the machine in a slot.
@DylanAyresreal About Mr. Beast:
Mr. Beast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, is renowned for his extravagant charitable acts and stunts on his YouTube channel, which has garnered him a massive following.
One of his most notable charitable efforts includes the “Team Trees” initiative in 2019, where he collaborated with fellow YouTuber Mark Rober to raise over $20 million to plant 20 million trees around the world, in partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation. This effort was notably successful due to the participation of numerous online personalities and the broader internet community.
Mr. Beast’s generosity doesn’t stop there; he often gives away large sums of money to individuals, organizations, and even strangers through various challenges and giveaways featured in his videos. His content not only entertains but also inspires acts of kindness, making him a standout figure in the world of social media for leveraging his platform for good. Furthermore, he has continued to expand his influence beyond YouTube, venturing into philanthropy and other business enterprises, all while maintaining a strong commitment to making a positive impact on the world.
Other Vending Machine Applications
Mattress Vending Machine
Coined the ‘Dream Machine’ and located in London’s King’s Cross station, the vending machine dispenses boxed mattresses to winning visitors at the press of a button.
It was created to help Brits get a new mattress, after study revealed 32% of adults are sleeping on one ‘well past its best.’
This is although 75% believe you can’t put a price on a good night’s sleep, while 80% consider a decent mattress to be a sound investment.
The study also found 18% have a mattress older than the recommended shelf-life of 7 to 10 years.
“So we launched the ‘Dream Machine’ to remind time-strapped commuters of the importance of a good mattress for a good night’s sleep and how easy it can be – whilst giving them the chance to pick-up a comfy new mattress for free in an instant.”
When asked why they haven’t replaced their mattresses, the study revealed 25% simply haven’t had chance to get a new one.
Other Vending Machine Applications
Creative Vending Movement
There are now more and more vending machines popping up around the world selling local art products and other interesting items.
Bellingham, Washington, US. (Pocket Box Vending Machine)
The vending machines are stocked with goodies that the company owner sources from local businesses and artists, as well as from her own thrift shop treasure hunts. The majority of items are priced between $5 to $20.
Each location has a unique selection — Black Sheep’s machine, for example, includes local artist Bridget Dahlman-Oeth’s collectible, themed art boxes made from repurposed Altoid tins that go for $10.
“My favorite thing is going back to a venue and just watching people engage [with the vending machine], and it’s exciting obviously when they purchase something, but just the pointing and giggles and excitement is just so great.”
Graczyk (Pocket Box Vending Machine Owner)Pocket Box vending machine. (Nina Walsh/Cascadia Daily News) Vancouver, Canada. (Pocket Box Vending Machine)
The city’s first art vending machine began operating at the Garden Court of Bentall Centre and is a collaboration between Vancouver Vending Co, Downtown Van, and Bentall Centre. According to curator Crystal Lau, it’s already a big hit with artists and art lovers.
(Vancouver Vending Co.) Other Vending Machine Applications
Vending Machine that absorbs CO2
Asahi Soft Drinks is experimenting with CO2 resource recycling using vending machines. The new model is designed to absorb CO2 from the atmosphere and convert it into industrial raw materials such as fertilizer and concrete. This initiative allows Japan to be one step closer to its mission of achieving a decarbonised society.
At the moment, each machine is capable of offsetting 20 percent of the CO2 emissions generated from the production of the electricity it requires to operate. With improvement, the hope is that these vending machines will achieve carbon neutrality in the future, where CO2 emissions are equal to absorption.
Close to 30 vending machines will be installed in various indoor spots where CO2 concentration is high, as well as in outdoor areas in Kanto and Kansai.
As for how the absorbed CO2 will be used, Asahi states: “various industrial applications, through co-creation with local governments and businesses”. These include boosting soil carbon sequestration and using CO2 as an additive in concrete to form submerged seaweed beds.
(Ashahi Group Holdings) Why need to absorb Co2:
- Climate Change Mitigation: CO2 is one of the primary greenhouse gases contributing to global warming. High concentrations of CO2 in the atmosphere trap heat, leading to an increase in global temperatures. Reducing atmospheric CO2 levels by absorbing it helps mitigate the effects of climate change, such as rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and disruptions to ecosystems.
- Ocean Health: The oceans absorb a significant portion of the Earth’s CO2 emissions. However, this absorption leads to ocean acidification, which threatens marine life, particularly organisms with calcium carbonate shells or skeletons, like corals and shellfish. By finding alternative ways to absorb CO2 outside of our oceans, we can help protect marine ecosystems.
- Carbon Sequestration: Natural processes such as photosynthesis enable plants, trees, and phytoplankton to absorb CO2, converting it into oxygen and biomass. Enhancing these natural carbon sinks through reforestation, afforestation, and preserving existing forests can significantly reduce atmospheric CO2 levels. Additionally, technological solutions like carbon capture and storage (CCS) aim to directly remove CO2 from industrial emissions or the atmosphere and store it underground or utilize it in products.
- Air Quality Improvement: High levels of CO2 can also contribute to poorer air quality, especially in urban areas where emissions from vehicles and industries are concentrated. Absorbing CO2 can lead to improved air quality, benefiting human health and well-being.
- Economic Opportunities: Innovations in carbon capture technologies and practices that enhance natural carbon sequestration not only address environmental concerns but also create economic opportunities. These include new jobs in green technology sectors, increased agricultural yields through soil carbon sequestration, and potential revenue from carbon credits.
Efforts to absorb CO2 are crucial in addressing global challenges posed by climate change, protecting biodiversity, and ensuring sustainable development for future generations.
Other Vending Machine Applications
Vending Machine at Earthquake
Japan has extended its natural disaster preparations to vending machines, which will offer free food and drink in the event of a major earthquake or typhoon.
Two machines have been installed in the western coastal city of Ako, located in a region that is vulnerable to powerful earthquake.
The machines, which contain about 300 bottles and cans of soft drinks and 150 emergency food items, including nutritional supplements, have been installed near buildings that have been designated as evacuation shelters.
They are designed to “unlock” and make their contents available free of charge at heavy rain warning, or an evacuation order after a quake of an upper five or higher on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of seven.
Their contents must be paid for the rest of the time, the newspaper added.
In another first, a vending machine with a radio that will automatically issue emergency broadcasts was set up in a park in Tokyo. The radio will be activated by earthquakes registering 5 or higher on intensity scale, and transmit evacuation and other vital information from a local community radio station.
#image_title Other Vending Machine Applications
Whale Meat Vending Machine
A Japanese whaling firm unveiled vending machines offering whale sashimi, whale steak and whale bacon in Yokohama on Tuesday in hopes of reviving sales of a food long in decline and shunned by many supermarkets.
“There are so many major supermarkets that are afraid of being harassed by anti-whaling groups so they won’t use whale. So there are many people who want to eat whale but can’t,” Tokoro, the firm owner said at the launch.
“Therefore, we are opening stores with the thought that we can provide a place where those people can eat.”
Though the government maintains that eating whale is a cherished part of Japan’s culture, consumption peaked in the early 1960s and has steadily declined as other protein sources became available and affordable.
Whale meat advocates point to its high protein content and low carbon footprint compared with other meats.
In Japan, there are also vending machine selling bear meat.
Credit@CNN
Interesting fact about Whale:
Whales are known for their remarkable communication abilities, particularly through the use of complex vocalizations often referred to as “whale songs.” These songs are most famously produced by male humpback whales and can last for hours. They play a significant role in communication, potentially related to mating rituals or establishing dominance, though their exact purpose remains somewhat of a mystery.
Another fascinating aspect of whales is their intelligence and social behavior. Whales, especially species like the sperm whale and orca, exhibit behaviors that suggest high levels of intelligence and social complexity. For instance, orcas (also known as killer whales) are known for their cooperative hunting techniques and unique vocal dialects among different pods. This indicates a form of culture within orca societies, where knowledge and behaviors are passed down through generations.
Additionally, whales serve a crucial role in marine ecosystems and global carbon cycles. As large animals, whales facilitate the transport of nutrients from deeper waters to the surface through their vertical movement (a phenomenon called the “whale pump”), which promotes the growth of phytoplankton. Phytoplankton not only forms the base of the marine food web but also absorbs millions of tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere annually, underscoring the ecological importance of whales in mitigating climate change.
Other Vending Machine Applications
Bear Meat Vending Machine
A remote Japanese town, Semboku city, is selling bear meat from a vending machine.
Bear attacks are an increasing problem in parts of rural Japan due to a shortage of food in the forests that brings the animals into inhabited areas to forage.
“The bears can be dangerous when they come into town, so hunters will set up traps or shoot them,” said Daishi Sato, who placed the vending machine outside his ‘soba’ noodle shop near the railway station in Semboku, 400 km (250 miles) north of Tokyo in Akita prefeacture.
Asian black bears are listed as vulnerable, but not critically so, and it is legal to eat bear in Japan.
“Bear meat isn’t very common so we want tourists who come to visit the town to buy it,” Sato said.
Do check this one out too: Whale Meat Vending Machine in Japan
Bears in Japan:
Japan is home to two species of bear: the Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) and the brown bear (Ursus arctos). The Asiatic black bear, also known as the moon bear due to the distinctive white or cream crescent-shaped mark on its chest, is more common and can be found in Honshu and Shikoku islands. However, they are less frequently seen in Kyushu. These bears generally inhabit mountainous forests.
The brown bear, locally referred to as the Ezo brown bear, is only found on the northern island of Hokkaido. This species is larger than the Asiatic black bear and is closely related to the North American brown bear.
Bears in Japan play a significant role in the local culture and folklore, often depicted in traditional stories and art. However, human-bear conflicts sometimes arise due to habitat encroachment and food scarcity, leading to measures by local authorities to manage these situations while also working towards conservation efforts to protect these magnificent creatures. Efforts include public education on bear behavior and habitat preservation to mitigate negative interactions between humans and bears.
Other Vending Machine Applications
Mystery boxes Vending Machine
Hong Kong famous Youtuber, Kimi is playing with Mystery boxes Vending machine.
Mystery boxes in Vending Machine:
Mystery boxes in vending machines represent an intriguing blend of surprise and instant gratification, offering customers a product or prize selected at random. One interesting fact about mystery boxes in vending machines is their ability to create a unique customer experience by leveraging the thrill of unpredictability. This concept taps into the human fascination with surprises and the excitement of not knowing exactly what you’re going to get, which can be especially appealing to collectors, gamers, and novelty seekers.
A notable example of this approach is seen in Japan, where ‘gachapon’ machines, akin to vending machines, dispense capsules containing random toys, figures, or collectibles. These machines are popular for offering everything from anime character figurines to practical joke items, often themed around current trends or classic favorites. The limited edition and exclusive items sometimes found in these machines encourage repeat engagement and can foster a community aspect among enthusiasts who trade or collect the items.
Incorporating mystery boxes into vending machines enhances user interaction and provides a fun, engaging experience that goes beyond the typical transactional nature of such machines. It’s a strategy that has been successfully applied in various settings to increase foot traffic and generate buzz around products or promotions.
Other Vending Machine Applications
