Today I’ll be taking a look at one of the vending machines in Claflin Hall’s basement. This particular vending machine sells a variety of snacks including chips, candy, cereal bars, chocolate bars, gum, etc. While vending machines are pretty conventional and ubiquitous in this country, I’ve never really stopped to think about how users interact with them.
The first thing I notice about a vending machine is the content, which is made visible by the large glass display. Users are able to clearly see the items in the machine, allowing them to quickly decide on what they want. Under each item is a code consisting of one letter and one number, which is conveniently punched in to make a selection. The machine also features a small screen that displays the status of the machine, the buttons pressed, and the price of the item selected. The user is thus easily able to choose an item, insert money, input the code, and retrieve the item.
There are several affordances I noticed on this vending machine. One affordance is the buttons that users press to choose their items. The buttons are large, simple, and easy to read, making the user’s experience a little easier. Another affordance is the push flap towards the bottom of the machine, which opens to where users can retrieve the items they have paid for.
One feature that is especially useful on this machine is the screen that displays the price. As the user is inserting money, the price on the screen changes to show the remaining balance due. This is useful in keeping track of how much money you need to insert so that you don’t accidentally overfeed the machine.
If I were to modify this machine, I would probably make the item codes more aligned with their respective items, as sometimes it was difficult to see what code pertained to a certain item. Another questionable aspect of this machine’s design is accessibility for people in wheelchairs. The items towards the top would be difficult to see and the buttons may not be reachable if someone is sitting in a wheelchair. Also, it is not entirely clear to the user whether the code should be punched in first or money should be inserted beforehand. These are things I would consider and modify when redesigning a vending machine.