The Future Of Vending Machines?

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- If you want to check out some high-tech vending machines, come on down to Peavey Plaza.

The Gratitude Tour, sponsored by the National Automatic Merchandising Association, is showing off the new age of vending and giving away lots of free stuff.

The vending machines look and act more like iPads with their touch-screen technology.

One of the machines, called the Diji-Touch, uses touch-screen technology to display an image of the product inside the machine. It allows users to interact with an enlarged, 360-degree view of the product, so they can see nutritional information and ingredients before deciding to buy it.

Another machine, called the PepsiCo's Social Vending System, let's the consumer send a beverage as a gift. The user selects a beverage and enters the recipient's name, mobile number and a personalized text message. Then the gift is delivered with a system code and instructions to redeem it at any PepsiCo Social Vending system.

Or how about craving fresh-spun cotton candy? Just go to one the VendEver Cotton Candy vending machines where it will make the sugary treat right in front of you.

The Gratitude Tour will be in Peavey Plaza until 5 p.m. tonight and it's all free.