Using an Emotion as Currency: A First Ever

Forget coins and dollar bills – this wasn't your average vending machine. We dreamed up a machine that ran on smiles! Using cutting-edge facial recognition software, we built an interactive experience that playfully plunged passersby into the world of Augmented Reality. Here's how it worked: smile into the screen, and as your grin grew wider, the machine would light up and track your progress. Reach a certain smile threshold, and – voila! – free ice cream dispenses. What says “happy” more than free ice cream?

• 2011 SXSW Award for best kiosk/installation award. Was one of 17 winners of 1,500 award entries, SapientNitro work was selected as best ‘beyond the browser' experience