[ih] Early IoT: anyone remember The Internet Toaster and Crane? :D

[Dave Crocker]

On 7/9/2020 6:05 AM, Vint Cerf via Internet-history wrote:
> Stanford AI Lab had a vending machine for food and other stuff

My introduction to pot sticker's was at one of the later incarnations of 
Louie's restaurant, near Stanford.  My hosts explained that the pot 
stickers were quite popular at the AI lab and that it was one of the 
items stocked in this vending machine.  They really were superb.

My mind went to the logistics challenges, so I noted that that created a 
requirement for restocking and asked how that was done.  It was 
explained to me that whenever the machine ran out, whoever noticed would 
just call Louie for a fresh batch and whoever was at Louie's from the 
lab would bring the order back.

Ever pragmatic, I noted that carried the onerous requirement to always 
have someone from the lab be at Louie's.

Just about then, a re-order phone call came in and some guy from the lab 
did take the order back.  Louie's was quite popular.

d/

-- 
Dave Crocker
Brandenburg InternetWorking
bbiw.net