Vending machines are usually the first port of call when we get that craving for a sugary treat, but how about treating yourself to a Porsche? In Singapore, you can now shop a gigantic vending machine that spits out luxury cars at the push of a button.

Omotenashi – which roughly translates as ‘selfless hospitality’ – is a complex concept; one the Japanese pride themselves on. As the 2020 Olympics approach, Japan is preparing to serve it up on a mass scale, turning to robots for help. But are androids advanced enough to emulate such a human service?

China’s youth is experiencing a sexual awakening. But since sex education is still lacking, many people learn about sex from peers, resulting in a lack of awareness around sexual health. In a bid to tackle rising HIV rates, a university is selling HIV testing kits in a vending machine.

People love to grumble about supermarket self-service machines. In fact 93% of UK shoppers claim to find them frustrating. But while consumers rant and rave when surveyed, statistics show that more people are using self-service than ever before. So do we really hate serving ourselves?