Vending machine surveillance

Oct. 13, 2008

Props to Gizmodo for revealing that in Japan, they're now installing surveillance cameras in some vending machines. The machines may also include an emergency phone and a flashing light with an alarm (the emergency phone and light/alarm part of these machines is not unlike technology from companies like Talk A Phone). Frankly, I think it's a pretty neat application of integrating emergency systems and surveillance with existing commerical infrastructure, but apparently there has been some backlash in Japan against additional surveillance.

Check out the Gizmodo story and the YouTube video about this unique vending surveillance application. The video is all the better if you know Japanese.

-Geoff