Vending machines in Latrobe have come a long way since the first coin-operated vending machine that dates back to the early 1920s. The days of sliding a few coins into a vending machine and waiting for a can of soda to tumble down, however, are numbered. The new social vending system features a touch-screen that allows users to buy a drink as well as gift one to someone. All this by entering the recipient’s name, mobile number, and a personalized text message, the machine generates a code and instructions on how to redeem the beverage at another social vending machine. With this machine, a basic transaction is transformed into a unique experience. Computerized social vending machines are just the start of everyday technology becoming more social.

Sweet — Ben & Jerry’s Commits to Shunning GMOs

Written by:  Lee Ann Rush  About a decade ago, I had the pleasure of visiting the Ben & Jerry’s ice cream complex in South Burlington, Vermont.  A self-titled “ice cream-o-maniac,” since childhood, I loved the tour — especially the hilarious Graveyard of Retired Flavors — and probably enjoyed the experience even more than did my young son (now age 20).  Ben &..