The Azkoyen Group, a leading Spanish multinational technology company, which offers automated products and services designed to bring unique experiences to people in their daily lives, together with the Irisbond company, a pioneer in eyetracking technology, will showcase the innovative pilot project of the first coffee machine controlled solely by eye gaze at the NAMA OneShow in the USA.
The Nama OneShow will take place from 18-20 August 2021 in New Orleans and is one of the leading events in the vending industry where exhibitors can present new products and services for professionals in the vending, micro-markets, OCS, dispensing, catering and convenience store industries.
This innovative machine has just been unveiled with great success amongst those attending the Mobile World Congress held in Barcelona last June, where they had the opportunity to experience an advanced technology for selecting coffee.
Using infrared-based eyetracking technology, the user’s gaze is analysed by the system, which is able to calculate the exact point the user is looking at to control the machine without the need for physical contact. COVID-19 has changed our perception of what is healthy and safe, and avoiding contact with surfaces is becoming a habit. It is important to emphasise that this technology does not, under any circumstances, require any user information and therefore no information of a personal nature is stored. This machine is an inclusive and Covid-free advanced prototype that provides the user with complete freedom of interaction, in a very natural way, and also allows people with reduced mobility to lead more independent lives.
The Azkoyen machine which has been used to test this cutting-edge innovation is the Vitro M5, a super-automatic coffee machine which is part of the company’s successful Vitro series, and which has been developed in collaboration with renowned engineers specialising in the processing of fresh milk. It includes the innovative micro injected air technology (MIA), patented by Azkoyen, which produces a perfect, silky and consistent milk froth that maximises the quality of the drinks, transforming the coffee moment into a unique experience.
This machine is currently an advanced prototype. From hereon in, the application of this technology to make people’s lives easier is now a reality.
According to Juanje Alberdi, CEO of the Azkoyen Group’s Coffee & Vending Systems and Payment Technologies divisions: “We are very satisfied with the warm reception that this innovation has enjoyed in Spain, as it demonstrates the importance of improving the user experience, and we want to take it to the strategic market of the USA. This partnership with Irisbond takes us a step further in providing more value to customers and users. And it is important to emphasise that the touchless trend is here to stay and is now more than ever a necessity, which is why, during the pandemic, we developed and patented the Distance Selection technology, which allows products to be selected without the need for physical contact with the surface of the machine”.
Furthermore, Eduardo Jáuregui, founder of IRISBOND stated: “At IRISBOND, we know that interactive eyetracking technology has a very broad use in a number of areas. From everyday use as an inclusive, infection-free technology, even in industry, to a very important area of use such as health. We are full of pride for having developed this product along with Azkoyen for the first time in the world. A simple idea that is easy to use and that may even lead to a revolution in user-friendliness, which is why we would love this product to go beyond business and also be developed for domestic use.”