According to its inventors, Marv (Media & Advertising Racing Vehicle) embodies the future in marketing and media advertising. The machine recognises customers and interacts with them, has a touch screen where they can view movies, print coupons, get a discount, play games or plug in their iPad. It offers all possible payment methods through internet or smartphone.
The machine pushes out candy, drinks or other refreshments in a special packaging, which again provides advertising space.
“Marv offers companies the possibility of target advertising and product placement,” said Chantal Kersten of US Candy Network. “When someone at the movies sees a product in the latest blockbuster, he goes out for candy during the break and at the same time gets a discount coupon for that product.”
The tricycle runs on electricity, has a green label and can be custom made. Marvs can be transformed into characters from movies or amusement parks or into corporate designs.
The machine uses Microsoft’s Kinect system that enables interaction with customers. Next year, the Kinect 2 system will be installed, allowing Marv to talk to his customers.
The vending machines are assembled at US Candy Network, which also designs and updates the software. The company expects to deliver 3,000 machines in the coming year.
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