[Nfbc-info] Inaccessible Coke Machines

[Brian Buhrow]

	hello.  It occurred to me that some folks on this list might not
realize what we're talking about here, since I've seen a couple messages
that seem a little confused about the discussion.
	We're not talking about Coke machines where you  put money into the
machine, select a product and get a can or bottle out of the machine.
We're talking about a new kind of soda fountain where, rather than having
an array of 4, 8 12 or 18 spigots which provide an equal number of
different kinds of soda.  Instead, there is one spigot and a touch screen
is used to select what comes out of that spigot, whether it be water, ice,
Coke, Orange soda, etc.  The idea is that the machine mixes the syrups
together to provide a huge selection of different kinds of sodas.
	While I agree with Jim that we can get assistance in getting a soda in
a restaurant, it is not something we have always had to get help doing, and
the help we needed was simply to be told which spigot to use.  Now, we mus
relinquish control entirely and ask someone to fill our cup, letting them
determine how much ice versus soda we want.  This means we need more of
someone's time to get a soda, and we cannot really independently perform
the task after having gotten assistance learning how to use the device.
That's a step backward in my opinion, even if just a small one.
	I'm told that Burger King has adopted these new machines in a big way,
which means this issue will probably come up again and again.    Should we
prepare to picket Burger King?  If so, it's important to bring your own
lunch with you!  LoL.

-Brian
lunch