GLOBAL – JANUARY 2011 – At CES 2011, Fulton Innovation presented technology called eCoupled Intelligent Wireless Power and turned the bright-colored boxes of General Mill’s Honey Nut Cheerios and Trix cereals into boxes with wireless circuits printed in special metallic ink that lights up surfaces.
CNET reports that the packaging provides inventory control through a freshness monitor that determines the expiration date, nutrition information and quantities of a product when used with a special reader. The box uses the same technology that can communicate information to devices such as smartphones and computers to alert users when food is ready or when the water is boiling. In addition, battery-powered toys could be charged on eCoupled surfaces.
Cereal boxes may not exactly be the next big thing, but the upcoming technology could prove useful for various applications. Fulton Innovation hopes to cash on its innovation soon.
Meanwhile, Japan proves once again that it is on top of the game when it comes to technology. JR East Water Business Co. distributed vending machines with a 47- inch touchscreen panel that identifies when an individual is coming and quickly displays the drinks that are available. These cool vending machines created by Design Studio S were installed in Tokyo’s Shinagawa Station on August 2010.
The machine can identify the age and gender of the person using it, and displays the price and few information about the suggested drink. The user can pay through cash, Suica (a prepaid card) or via mobile phone. The high-tech vending machine is popular among young people, encouraging JR East Water Business Co. to build 500 machines in the next two years.
Image: eCoupled on Flickr
