Face Recognition Vending Machine Curbs Underage Smoking

Tech outfit Fujitaka is set to unleash 10,000 “adult recognition” cigarette vending machines around Japan. The $6,000-$8,000 puffer purveyor comes equipped with a camera and face recognition software to determine if the user is of the 20 year old legal age. The way it works is, the customer steps up to the camera and the machine snaps his or her picture. It is analyzed and if it determines that you’re old looking enough, you get your smoky treats. If it can’t determine your age, you have to insert your ID for verification.

I’m not a smoker myself, but I’d be interested to see how old the machine thinks I am. What a thrill it would be to convince a machine I still look like a teenager!