Drinks machine and a method for operating such a drinks machine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vending machines, particularly coffee machines, struggle to attract attention in environments where customers are distracted, and existing technologies do not effectively encourage people to use them by evoking emotions or desires.
Innovation Solution
The integration of interaction devices such as acoustic converters, light sources, and odor emitters connected to a person sensor and interaction controller, which can detect and respond to individuals' presence and characteristics, providing emotional engagement through sound, light, and scent to increase the likelihood of customers using the machine.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a drinks machine is placed in a store or public area for self-service, then it provides convenient drink dispensing, but it fails to attract attention from distracted customers
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by detecting customer presence and preemptively activating appropriate sensory interactions (visual, acoustic, olfactory) before the customer approaches the machine, thereby capturing attention in advance and increasing the likelihood of use
Solution Approach 2:
The interaction means are made dynamic through person sensors that detect movement profiles and characteristics, allowing the system to adaptively activate different interaction modes (visual displays, acoustic signals, odor emission) based on real-time customer presence and behavior
2Ease of manufacture
If interaction means with acoustic converters, light sources, and odor emitters are added to the drinks machine, then attention-grabbing capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The interaction controller serves as a universal control unit that manages multiple types of interaction means (visual displays, acoustic converters, odor emitters) through a single integrated system, allowing one component to perform multiple functions and thereby managing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The interaction controller acts as an intermediary between the person sensor and the various interaction means, coordinating their activation based on detected customer characteristics and environmental conditions, thereby simplifying the overall system architecture through centralized control
3Ease of manufacture
If the interaction means are activated based on person detection and environmental parameters, then customer engagement is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic activation of interaction means based on detected customer presence and characteristics, rather than continuous operation, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining effective customer engagement when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The interaction controller adjusts the intensity and type of interaction activation based on environmental parameters (time of day, season, weather) and detected customer characteristics, optimizing energy usage by adapting the level of engagement to current conditions
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a drinks machine (30) comprising first devices (11, 12, 15, 19, 20) for producing and serving drinks, and second devices (13) to be operated by the customers and consumers thereof. Utilisation of the device is improved by virtue of said drinks machine (30) additionally comprising interactive means (21, 22; 29, 31, 32) allowing a person (24) located near to the drinks machine (30) to be addressed in an emotive manner beyond factual information.