A recycling ATM offers gadget freaks the option to trade in their discarded mobile phones for cash, rather than dumping them when they go in for the latest model. Californian company ecoATM has rolled out the machine that is sophisticated enough to see if a screen is cracked, evaluate unwanted goods for resale and recycling - hoping to inspire people to go green.
Old gadgets still have a value as either an affordable alternative, spare parts, or even melted down for the residual value of the metals inside. ecoATM has developed the device with support from the US National Science Foundation (NSF).
Using artificial intelligence (AI) ecoATM kiosks can differentiate varied consumer electronics products and determine a market value. If the value is acceptable, users have the option of receiving cash or store credit for their trade - or donating all or part of the compensation to one of several charities.
The company's databases are now trained with images of more than 4,000 devices, and when an identification mistake occurs, the system learns from that mistake.
When a phone is presented, the AI system conducts a visual inspection, identifies the device model and provides one of 23 possible connector cables to link it to the network.
A value is then determined based on the company's real-time, worldwide, pre-auction system in which a broad network of buyers have already bid on the old technology, so the kiosk can immediately provide compensation.
13 Comments
Let me update you Anjali, Be'eah in Sharjah has also introduced Reverse Vending Machines I'll enlighten you with a report on this..
Posted 09-06-2013 12:52
Thanks for sharing Anjali.
Posted 09-06-2013 12:50
This is a great idea! Hope to see this machine in the market soon!
Posted 23-02-2013 21:05
Right! I'm really curious whether this eco ATM is already on the market yet. Thanks for the report!
Posted 03-02-2013 19:11
Anjali, please contact me at aa.in201@gmail.com , our organisation , saviours of earth , needs a graphic designer
Posted 02-01-2013 07:47
thanks for sharing
Posted 02-01-2013 07:46
very Innovative idea
Posted 02-01-2013 07:45
Anjali is now a big sister of Eco-generation friends ^)
Posted 17-10-2012 08:45
Hi Anjali! Thanks for sharing this!
Posted 27-09-2012 14:06
Hi Anjali~~ This is a really interesting article! Thank you for sharing.
By the way, it's great that you are with us everyday through Eco-generation. :-)
Posted 24-09-2012 13:18
Thx for the info...in which countries these are available as on date?
Posted 22-09-2012 01:06
Thanks for the report on the innovative idea.
Posted 21-09-2012 22:19
What a lovely idea! Thanks for the update, Anjali ^)
Posted 21-09-2012 16:25