Latest news with #vendingmachine
Independent Singapore
2 hours ago
- Independent Singapore
Worker was seen placing dropped straws into iJooz machine at Queenstown condo
SINGAPORE: A worker was seen picking up straws that had fallen to the ground and placing them straight into an iJooz vending machine at a Queenstown condominium, raising eyebrows over hygiene standards. The machines, which are popular across Singapore, serve freshly squeezed orange juice and use individual straws to dispense the drink. The incident happened at Queens Peak, a condo along Dundee Road, just opposite Queenstown MRT. A resident who witnessed it took a video and sent it to Stomp, calling it 'inappropriate handling of dirty straws.' According to the resident, the worker was refilling the machine while holding a phone in one hand. Several straws slipped from his grip and landed on the floor, but he picked them up and put them back into the machine. The incident has sparked concerns about hygiene and food safety, with some members of the public online questioning whether staff responsible for maintaining the machines are being properly trained.
CBS News
2 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Vending machine at Allegheny County Jail offers books to kids visiting loved ones
A vibrant machine at the Allegheny County Jail is catching a lot of eyes. "It has beautiful colors, and it talks to you," said Connie Clark, deputy warden for programs and services at the Allegheny County Jail. So much so that it drew Kylie Vargo's kids over. "As soon as they walked in, they wondered what was in there," said Vargo, a parent. Usually, people expect one of these machines to pop out a soda. "They're used to looking at snacks and them," Vargo said. But this time? Books are the draw. "It's very thoughtful to have something like that," Vargo said. "We wanted to make this space more engaging for children," Clark said. It's an addition that people like Connie Clark at the Allegheny County Jail are stoked about. "This was one other opportunity for us to offer a positive experience for children visitors to the jail," she said. The offer was born out of something similar. "I had read an article about a vending machine in a family court in Alabama," said Carrie Lane, youth services coordinator for the Allegheny County Library Association. "I loved the idea, and I wanted to see if we could replicate that here." And the Allegheny County Library Association worked to do just that. "The Allegheny County Library Association came to me with this idea that they wanted to do this," state Rep. Lindsey Williams, a Democrat representing Pennsylvania's 38th Senate District, said. "Myself and Sen. Costa were supportive of a grant request through the DCED, Department of Community and Economic Development." The next step was finding books. "It's really important to me to shop local and support a small independent bookstore," Lane said. Lane turned to Spark Books in Aspinwall. "They have supported us in some of our other literacy projects, so I chose to use them again for this project," she said. She says she wanted to make sure some of the selections are tailored to real-life experiences. "I wanted to make sure they saw some of themselves in the books," Lane said. "''From the Desk of Zoe Washington' is a middle grade book where her father is incarcerated." It all starts with putting in a token. "They receive a book," Clark said. "The book is free of charge. It's theirs to keep." And it's something the ACLA and the jail hope gives these kids somewhat of a positive. "For anyone to have a loved one that's incarcerated, it's a really stressful situation," Clark said. "They have an opportunity to have a more positive experience here at the jail and with our correctional officer staff." And maybe during that experience, they learn to love reading, too. "Books change lives and getting more books in the hands of kids? I think we're all better off in the long run," Williams said. Lane said that there will be another machine going in soon. The next location will be at the Allegheny County Family Court on Ross Street.
Times of Oman
20-05-2025
- Business
- Times of Oman
Floward unveils MENA's First Robotic Flower Vending Machine, bridging E-Commerce with Offline Innovation
Muscat: Floward, the go-to online flowers and gifts delivery destination in MENA and UK, has unveiled its latest innovation: MENA's first robotic flower vending machine, designed exclusively for Floward and built to redefine how people shop for flowers on the go. Now live in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait, the machines offer a fully automated, tech-enabled experience — bringing together convenience, personalization, and freshness in one sleek unit. These vending machines mark a new level of offline innovation, designed from the ground up with Floward's e-commerce mindset, they bring together automation, personalization, and freshness all in one sleek unit. Key features include: • Robotic automation that enables real-time order fulfillment • Built-in card printing so customers can personalize messages on the spot • Automated water-spraying system to keep flowers fresh and vibrant Chairman and CEO at Floward, Mr. Abdulaziz B. Al Loughani said: 'We didn't want to go offline just for the sake of presence, we wanted to do it in a way that still reflects who we are: a tech-driven, customer-centric company. This machine brings the Floward experience closer to people's everyday lives while keeping the same standards of quality and innovation.' The machines offer a curated selection of flowers available at the tap of a screen. No queues, no waiting, just thoughtful gifting on demand. Floward plans to expand the vending machines across all its operating countries by Q4 2025, reinforcing its mission to make thoughtful moments more accessible anytime, anywhere. Established in 2017, Floward is a full-fledged e-commerce solution that offers prime fresh-cut flowers sourced from the best growers and farmers around the world and arranged locally by a team of florists and designers. Floward also offers cakes, chocolate and perfumes curated by the region's most exciting designers bundled with its flower arrangements and manages last-mile same-day delivery to ensure the best customer experience.
