Never mind the technology, where’s the learning?

The school vending machine has come in for a great deal of criticism lately resulting in a ban on chocolates, crisps or fizzy drinks being sold in schools from September. A source of revenue for schools for a long time, what could be the healthy alternative?

Call a Ball has been invented by Sören Grünert, Kirsten Hüsig & Janis Pönisch in the Netherlands and has won third prize in the Nike Play Award for Innovation in Football. The vending machine also uses the most likely source of loose change kids have in their pockets - credit on their mobile phones.

You SMS to Call a Ball’s communication centre giving the kiosk’s number which sends a return message authorising the machine to dispense a football at its base. If you want to find people with whom to play ball, all you have to do is register as a ‘baseplayer’ at one or more kiosks. Then send out an SMS containing the codeword ‘Challenge’ to the kiosks of your choice, which will then relay it to your teammates and opponents. You play with the ball, and when your game is over return it to a hole in the top of the machine. You are charged for the length of time the ball has been out of the machine. The ball has an RFID chip embedded in it so it can be traced to you should you not return, and the system charges you the cost of the ball using your mobile phone credit as currency.

In schools there are lots of games going on at lunchtime and after school, and these rely of someone bringing a ball, or begging for one from a teacher. Installing a Call a Ball might not only remove all that hassle, but provide revenue for the school! There are also lots of places they could be situated including playgrounds and beaches. The Government should be promoting these as part of its campaign for sport in schools!

Here’s the promotional video:

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