Tuesday the Second, Machine installation

Today we put some finishing touches on our first machine, and travelled back to the Suntreso hospital to install the machine at Helena's HIV clinic. Installation went without a hitch, and Helena identified a few minor tweaks she'd like us to make over the next few days --

*Adding more color to the machine, perhaps in the form of images or paint.
*Improving the side instructions and matching them to the vend slot design
*Improving the condom vend slot, smoothing the edges and increasing the size slightly to ease access
*Improving the inventory chute, to ease filling the machine
*Incorporating the Red Ribbon symbol in the exterior design of the machine in some manner

To address these, Aimee and I have decided to

*Increase the size and modify the design of the front image, adding a large colored Red Ribbon symbol
*Modify the side instruction dialog to match the vending slot, and add information for if the machine will not take the coin (i.e. is empty and interlock is engaged)
*Filing and duct taping the edges of the vend slot, as well as bending back a tab at the top surface (simultaneously heightening the slot and removing the sharp edge)
*Modifying the inventory chute faceplate design to allow removal of inventory followers, and ease filling from the top section of the inventory -- more on that later

Overall, Helena was very happy with the device, and looks forward to installations at more clinics soon.