I used to think I would never be a Luddite, that I'd always be ready to embrace new technology. Maybe I was simply too young to think through the consequences of what we encounter. Maybe there is a bit of wisdom that comes with age. Or, maybe I'm getting curmudgeonly as I grow older.
Recently, I dined at two different "small" national burger franchises in the Seattle metro area. There, I encountered the new Coca-Cola Freestyle self-serve soda fountain. What a smashing blend of modern technology! Coca-Cola took lessons from Apple, having essentially a single button and touch-screen interface. It uses PurePour Technologyâ„¢ to precisely meter all the ingredients to make your perfectly customized fountain drink before your eyes. This beauty can make 125 different beverages while occupying the space of a standard 6-valve fountain!
OK, let's take a deep breath and look at it a bit more dispassionately. Does a soda fountain really need a touch screen? I suppose so. Everything's better with a touch screen, right? Wait, what about water intrusion and sanitation? How clean is that touch screen really? Will restaurants really be "sanitizing" it more than hourly? I am not a germ-o-phobe, but think of all those fingers that touched the screen before you, all those sticky, dirty fingers. The regular 6-valve fountain involves less touching, with the cup usually activating the valve. Maybe the touch screen isn't such a good idea after all.
But it's so cool! It lets you select your base drink, then modify it by sweetener and flavor additive! Hold on a minute, is that really a good idea? Can everyone make their beverage decisions rapidly when faced with 125 possible choices? The line behind this technological wonder grows VERY quickly. There's something like eighteen base choices alone on the main selection screen. That by itself is enough to slow down the beverage dispensing process.
Coca-Cola Freestyle self-serve soda machines will customize your drink.
I find it a bit ironic that the PurePour Technology used to meter out all those flavors and sweeteners was originally designed for extremely precise diabetic and cancer drug metering. I think the inventors of this technology will stand next to Alfred Nobel when it comes to intentions and results.
OK, even after all those reservations, it's still pretty neat to get in front of the machine and begin literally concocting my drink. Hmmm. Base drink? Coke. Then, decide if I want sugar or diet. Then, do I want Cherry, Cherry-Vanilla, Vanilla, Lime, Raspberry, or Orange Coke? Perusing the official flavor list, I find interesting that not all flavor additives are available for all base drinks. Sprite permits one to add Cherry, Cherry-Lime, Grape, Grape-Cherry, Orange, Peach, Raspberry, Strawberry, and Vanilla. Apparently some combinations are either so vile-tasting (toxic? explosive?) that one is simply not permitted to add them (Peach Coke?).
At the first restaurant, all I wanted was a simple Coke. A few weeks later, at a different restaurant, I experimented a little. My first choice (Raspberry Lemonade), the Freestyle Fountain ran out one-third of the way to filling my cup! I dumped it and went with Vanilla Coke. Gah! That did not taste as good as it sounds! I went back, got a plain Coke, and finished my meal. Two thoughts about that experience have been kicking around my head. First, what percentage of repeat users will try one or two flavors, then resort back to a basic Coke, or Sprite, or even Pibb, without adding anything else ever again? I suspect it will be a high number.
The other thought was, with all that amazing technology for drink mixology, why didn't the fountain know that it did NOT have enough lemonade concentrate to fill a basic serving? I know it was in fact lemonade that it ran out of, because all of those choices went gray/untouchable. I could still get Raspberry Sprite, and could still get regular sweetener in all the drinks. So why didn't it know it did not have enough for a complete serving?
The choices seem a bit grandiose, too. You can get Dasani water, with flavors added, or Seagram's Seltzer Water. There's a pipe from the tap feeding this fountain. The Dasani Website says it uses local water filtered by reverse osmosis and then enhanced with minerals. I can accept that there is a flavor cartridge inside this magical soda fountain with that special blend of minerals. But a reverse osmosis rig, too? That's stretching credibility.
The Freestyle fountain is an amazing use of modern technology. I wonder if it's worthwhile. Gotta go. My order just came up, and I want to grab a Grape-Raspberry Sprite before I leave. You might consider checking out Freestyle's Facebook page while you wait for your order.
Are we really that concerned about public touchscreens? How have we survived ATM's and gas pumps? I like the design and doubt that the health considerations were neglected during the design process. More likely, the touchscreen decision was made based on consumers' comfort and familiarity with the technology in so many other daily transactions.
I was going to write my own comment but WilliamWeaver wrote it for me. I love this machine. It's a fresh as the Heinz squeeze and dip ketchup containers that some people complain about for reason I cannot fathom.
Good that more drink options are available. Bad it is a beverage company doing this and I understand why. I like Coke very much, but this means only coke products will be available. I am not a huge fan of cherry or vanilla in my cola, but wouldn't be awesome if I could get a grapette, A&W, Dr Pepper, Mug Root beer, or many of those older cola flavors that were popular way back when. A person has to go to a soda pop specialty store to get something other than Coke and Pepsi flavors. Now that's giving a person choices and it might hold up the line a few minutes.
I'm 61 and pretty much a Luddite. (I don't have a cell phone or even want an IPod.) However, I seldom find the drink I really want at eateries and I think this thing would be great. I can put a napkin over my finger if I notice the place is full of nose pickers and lepers.
The solution to the germ problem might be an iphone or android app that talks to the dispenser via bluetooth or the web, of course eliminating customers not possessing such devices.
I have heard that some highway patrolmen carry a case of Coke in their trunks because it's the only thing that easily removes blood from the pavement. Also, a penny in a glass of Coke will dissappear in a few days. So the other solution might be not to ingest that #%$#% in the first place. I thought engineers were a practical, analytical, solutions-oriented lot.
Although I have not seen any of these new-fangled machines in the local eateries here in the Tampa Bay, FL area, I don't doubt their existence. However, the negative comments about the germs problem of touching the screen I think is an overblown fear. Depending on the age & style of the drink dipensers, not ALL of them use the container bar-press solution. Many of them feature a rectangular area on the front of each product's dispense head w/ the word PUSH inscribed. Since these machines have been in use for probably 20 years, and there have not been any conclusive studies claiming outbreaks of LEGIONNAIRE'S DISEASE, LISTERIA, E-COLI, EBOLA, or the common cold being spread from these machines, I think the probability is rather low.
The concerns that some folks voiced regarding the time factor I believe IS a far more legitimate concern. When a person is forced into perusing all the options, making a decision, and waiting for the dispensing operation, there seems to be a built-in irritant factor with this new design. One commentor suggested having the new-style machine side by side w/ a traditonal machine. That decision will probably be relegated to the "suits" at McDONALD'S, BURGER KING, WENDY'S, etc.
I've been mixing drinks for years. I always mix regular and diet: less sugar, better taste than diet. Mix in some lemon-lime.... Not as many choices, but it's possible to have too many, especially at a "fast food" place.
<i>Good that more drink options are available.</i>
I don't know about that. Some interesting research suggests that too much choice can in some ways lead to less happiness than not enough choice. Type "choice happiness" into the http://www.ted.com/ search box, and watch the presentations by Dan Gilbert, Barry Schwartz, and Malcolm Gladwell.
The correct "Free" choice is to have water. It is better for you. Will not strip the enamel from your teeth, will not make you fat, will not poison you with additives.....
Besides, this is where they make money from the gullible. It's modern day snake oil. You're addicted to it.
But what if I want Pepsi? :-) Na it's true, stick to water it's better. I rearely drink anything else with a meal. The exception would be coffee with desert.
Yes, don't fear germs. They reckon a large percentage of your DNA is inherited from germs/viruses. There's also been links found between autoimmune diseases and sterile living. Live clean but not sterile.
I think the only valid point is that this will slow the queues down.
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