The potential use of wireless "beacons" to inform smartphone-equipped shoppers of nearby vending machines was the topic of the third technology-themed seminar at the National Automatic
Merchandising Association's 2016 OneShow in Chicago. The session was opened by Lindsey K. Nelson, NAMA executive director of development, who thanked the Coca-Cola Co. for its sponsorship of the
session. She introduced Google's Dan Cath and Coke's Derek Myers, who offered some insight on potential applications in vending for beacons. Cath explained that beacons have been used to
convey information since time immemorial. Before the invention of radio, smoke signals, watch fires and flags were employed by armies and ships at sea. The methods were effective if the addressee saw
the signal -- and understood it.
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