Rose-Hulman Students Develop Web-Based Soda Machine
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Soda Team Members (L to R) Michael VanVertloo, Aaron Eppert,Craig Pohlman, Andy Engle. |
With a simple click of a computer mouse, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology students and faculty are ordering their favorite soft drinks from a soda machine -- 24 hours a day -- from residence hall rooms, offices and laboratories.
Four computer science students developed a web-based soda machine that allows students, faculty and staff members to deposit money into accounts and then order any of six varieties of soft drinks through the web site http://coke.cs.rose-hulman.edu
Members of the development team were Andy Engle, a senior from Frederick, Md.; Aaron Eppert, a senior from Guilford, Ind.; Craig Pohlman, a recent graduate from Tempe, Ariz.; and Mike VanVertloo, a 2000 graduate from Edwardsville, Ill. The system was developed for a web-based information systems class taught by Rose-Hulman professor Michael Wollowski.
"This gives new meaning to e-commerce for college students. Also, it's just a lot of fun," Eppert said. "Anywhere in the world where people have web access, they can order a soda."
As a test, Engle gave his account user name and password to his sister, who lives in North Carolina. Then, she made an order.
"I told her to get on the web and order a Dr. Pepper," Engle told The Terre Haute Tribune-Star. "She ordered it and I walked down the hall and got my Dr. Pepper. She asked me if it worked and I said, 'Yeah, it's right here on my desk.' She just flipped out and said, 'That is so cool!"
The computer system allows customers to make advanced orders so that sodas can be waiting for them as they walk between classes. The system also has an accounting system that allows venders to keep track of the most popular sodas being ordered.
The vending machine currently is located near the Computer Science Department in the basement of the Logan Library. With further technological advancements, web-based vending machines could be installed in residence halls throughout campus during the 2000-2001 school year.
The system has been popular with customers. More than 80 cans were ordered through the system during the college's Rose Show in early May. New accounts are being established every day as students learn about the system. A total of 24 students and faculty had registered for on-line soft drink accounts through the end of May.
"We haven't started marketing the program on campus. Once students find out about it, they'll be attracted to it. After all, every student can access the system through their laptop computer," Pohlman said.
Future modifications could be adding a computer display to identify the person that ordered the soft drink and a security system that would prevent someone from taking the can before the customer arrives.
The vending machine was provided by Calderon Vending of Indianapolis.