Luchà means "green tea" in Chinese language.
The name explains that the product is linked to this kind of beverages: it's basically a Vending Machine for high quality hot tea (dispensed in tea-bags), situated inside a universitary campus.
The name explains that the product is linked to this kind of beverages: it's basically a Vending Machine for high quality hot tea (dispensed in tea-bags), situated inside a universitary campus.
The analysis of the campus was focused on the common spaces dedicated to "relax", expecially on the relaxing and refreshing areas.
In the actual situation people are passing through these spaces, also if they don't need the Vending Machines, disturbing other people.
In the actual situation people are passing through these spaces, also if they don't need the Vending Machines, disturbing other people.
The purchaser (inside an universitary campus and in front of an Automatic Machine) has the need to have a break from the didactic issues. Sometimes waiting at the Vending Machines can be stressful (for example the breaking of the personal proxemic bubbles).
The Vending Machine can answer to this need with some devices to facilitate the transaction, such as an easy way to pay the beverages, a surface where to put on the glasses, quality products and an interface which can improve the physical and cognitive interaction.
The Vending Machine can answer to this need with some devices to facilitate the transaction, such as an easy way to pay the beverages, a surface where to put on the glasses, quality products and an interface which can improve the physical and cognitive interaction.
Another category of users are the maintenance technicians. Their needs are about the interaction with the internal elements.
A technician must know if the Machines have some broken pieces and which dietary products they must put inside them: having these informations beforehands it's very important (thanks to an Internet connection between Vending Machines and the Maintanence office) as a way to save time and carry just the useful products.
A technician must know if the Machines have some broken pieces and which dietary products they must put inside them: having these informations beforehands it's very important (thanks to an Internet connection between Vending Machines and the Maintanence office) as a way to save time and carry just the useful products.
I have focused the attention on the analysis of an existing Vending Machines for hot beverages.
The basic elements to work on are the components for the beverages supply, the regulations buttons (such as for the sugar), the compartment for the products return and the payment methods.
The basic elements to work on are the components for the beverages supply, the regulations buttons (such as for the sugar), the compartment for the products return and the payment methods.
I have reduced a lot the number of the internal elements: Luchà just need 6 small dispensers for the tea bags (one for each flavour), a dispenser for the sugar, and other two for the sticks and the glasses, plus a payment box for the coins.
The dispensers for the tea bags are similar to the springs actually used for the food in the Automatic Machines, but smaller and in a vertical position: an engine (12 volt) is making a spring turn on its focus for one rotation, to leave the tea bag falls on the products return compartment.
The users can buy a glass of hot water and the tea bag and they are free to put the bag in the bin for the time they prefere and also to add some sugar. In this way they can personalize their products.
The dispensers for the tea bags are similar to the springs actually used for the food in the Automatic Machines, but smaller and in a vertical position: an engine (12 volt) is making a spring turn on its focus for one rotation, to leave the tea bag falls on the products return compartment.
The users can buy a glass of hot water and the tea bag and they are free to put the bag in the bin for the time they prefere and also to add some sugar. In this way they can personalize their products.
Another topic linked to the Vending Machine is the packaging for the beverages.
You need a glass, a tea bag and a stick to mix the tea and the sugar. These are all single-use elements: using biocompatible materials you can throw them all together on the organic trash.
I put a trash bin for the organic garbage inside the automatic machine.
The materials are paper and Pha.
You need a glass, a tea bag and a stick to mix the tea and the sugar. These are all single-use elements: using biocompatible materials you can throw them all together on the organic trash.
I put a trash bin for the organic garbage inside the automatic machine.
The materials are paper and Pha.
You can pay in different ways: in addition to the traditional coins or rechargeable key, you can use your phone (an application, by text message or with a service through Internet connection) and the universitary badge as a credit card.
The mobile phone wth an Internet connection is a perfect device for the micro-payment and it's very diffused (12.000.000 in Italy)
The mobile phone wth an Internet connection is a perfect device for the micro-payment and it's very diffused (12.000.000 in Italy)
