Vending machines getting high-tech

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Updated: November 10, 2011 11:19AM

A new generation of vending machines is coming that will do pay by credit card, key fob and smartphone and buy multiple items at a time.

In New York over the weekend, a traveling trade industry show of “dream machines” included:

† A touch-screen machine from Kraft that lets you buy multiple snacks at a time and also lets you see close-up images of the package so you can read details such as ingredients and nutritional facts.

† A machine from Crane, the industry’s giant, that lets you buy snacks and drinks from several machines at one time but only pay once with a debit card, stored-value card or smartphone.

† The Ramen Noodle Station, developed by Generation Y entrepeneur and University of Chicago graduate Leonard Kang that makes fresh, customized ramen noodles in three minutes.

One other innovation in vending machines that’s coming: Some new ones have tiny cameras so, if your candy bar doesn’t drop and you kick the machine and damage it, it will capture you doing that.