by Kimberly A. Cook (Twitter@ WarriorTales)
We writers watch trends and keep our ears open to what is happening around us, but we follow our own stars. Most of the time. A couple of years ago I watched a fascinating tv show profiling a science researcher. He was asked if scientific research drives the business world.
“No,” he replied. “Business drives scientific research. I read the Wall Street Journal every day.” Blew my mind at the time, but it makes sense. Even researchers have to follow the money at some point. So where does this lead us with machines and specialization?
A New York Times article on Feb. 18 by Nick Wingfield opened a glimpse into the vending world future. Wingfield reported how Coinstar, those folks whose machines count your coins at grocery stores for a fee and proud owners of Redbox movie vending, are branching out.
Coinstar is moving into coffee vending machines. Seems old school, but these are not just any machines; these mechanical baristas grind the beans, brew a fresh cuppa for one dollar and take your credit card. The cup of Joe tastes close to coffee shop liquid, according to Wingfield. So, besides grinding beans, what is Coinstar up to next?
Wingfield reported Redbox sees the writing on the box with online movie watching replacing movie discs, so they have “banded together with Verizon Communications to form a service that combines DVD and streaming movie options.”
With mobile phones, Nook Tablet, Kindle Fire and the iPad2 today, maybe our favorite drink will drop from one of those Coinstar coffee vending machines when we walk past. Our beverage may be followed by a new movie release, the latest e-version Wall Street Journal and our fav author’s latest ebook delivered to our “devices” without lifting a finger. Two out of four of those things are happening today.
Make mine hot cocoa and a romantic comedy to go! Machines rule! But the movies and ereaders still need content providers; or as we’re called by our old school name, writers.
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