Change of address machines

The first of some 10,000 Postal Buddy computerised machines have been installed in supermarkets and shopping centres in the Washington DC and San Diego areas in the States. They use voice and video prompts to guide users who are moving house to enter their change-of-address information via a keyboard and touch-screen sensors. The user can choose which of 200 periodicals and catalogues he or she wishes to be automatically notified of the new address. Each night the central Post Office computer retrieves the information by phone line from the Postal Buddy machine and forwards the address changes to the organisations. There is no charge to the public, and they can expect to see the new addresses reaching the organisations faster and with fewer errors than normally, claims a company spokesman.

The Postal Buddy can also print tailor-made business cards, stationery and mailing lables.