Image by Dominic’s pics via Flickr

Did you know that the first coin operated vending machine first came out in London in the 1880′s? It didn’t sell coke or candy, it dispensed postcards! Soon thereafter, vending machines included everything from cigars to soda in cups.

A typical Coke vending machine highlighting Sprite!

When I was walking around Roosevelt Field Mall on Long Island with my kids getting back to school clothes and supplies for school, we passed by a Coke machine that has touch screen capabilities. It gave you the opportunity to view the video images of the products and told you the price. I felt as though it was taken from the future and placed here in 2009!

The new touch screen vending machine of 2009.

As I photographed these two machines, my thoughts went to my smartphone (iphone). I can see purchasing a bottle of Coke on my smart phone one day…. Couldn’t you?

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