Talking Vending Machine Reminds Driver Safe Driving in Japan

Suppose you were a company employee, how would react to the voice of your president? It all depends, of course, but, generally speaking, do you find your president's voice encouraging or demoralizing? A queer question, but here is the reason why.

A leading beverage maker Dydo Drinco, Incorporated has come up with an eccentric vending machine that talks to you each time for each bottle you buy - in a cajoling voice of your own company president! The first to innovate this self-talking dispenser is MK Co., Ltd. in Kyoto, installed on August 6 at 5 stations in their service area fully customized for the company.

This is how it works:

As you throw coins, President Nobuaki Aoki says "Thank you. Watch your appearance. Keep smiling."

As you push Selection Button and pick up your bottle, he says "Thank you for a day's hard work. Be sure to drive carefully".

On the front panel of the dispenser is  a mirror to check your appearance and President Aoki's message with his photo saying "Have you taken enough water?"

Dydo sells 85% of the total output through vending machines and the recent self-talking models are geared for direct communication with the customers. A PR staff of Dydo believes the business environment for vending machines is harder by the year and grabbing right locations is essential. He said the transaction this time with MK is Dydo's entirely new approach toward "remodeling" vending machines into "problem-solving business points".

Now, about a month afterward, some MK drivers are somewhat positive and others less enthusiastic: "Encouraged by President Aoki everyday", "Feel close to him", "Better if he talks in a brighter tone", "Lot better if he could come see us often.....".

An MK PR staff believes the talking-dispenser is a new tool to keep reminding their drivers the importance of safety driving.

News Souce: Withnews