Finally, technology that we can all agree is useful. All those times that you’re stuck at the vending machine wondering just what drink you want – well worry no more.

A new Japanese vending machine uses facial recognition technology to recommend canned drinks based on the customer’s age and gender. So perhaps Coke for the kids and iced tea for adults? Who knows, I’m curious as to what it thinks I want though.

Sounds very much like the Nutrimatic Drinks Dispenser –  of which The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy has the following to say:

“When the ‘Drink’ button is pressed it makes an instant but highly detailed examination of the subject’s taste buds, a spectroscopic analysis of the subject’s metabolism, and then sends tiny experimental signals down the neural pathways to the taste centres of the subject’s brain to see what is likely to be well received. However, no-one knows quite why it does this because it then invariably delivers a cupful of liquid that is almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea.”

Also in the news today was a PR masterclass from an Aussie in Canada. We tell our clients to never say no comment. It looks bad and implies you’re hiding something – however our advice doesn’t suggest using, “I’m eating a cookie” instead. According to news.com.au, the poor chap, dubbed ‘The Cookie Monster’ in the press, has now been sacked as chief executive of a Canadian health service as a result – which seems harsh to me.