Sky News reports that in the UK:
Postboxes upgraded with solar panels in high-tech parcel trial
The solar panels are used to power a new shute that accepts parcels that can be left in the boxes when their barcode is scanned.
A letter scanner built-in to the letter shute rejects and spits out letters that are stamped with outdated stamps.
The new powered post box can also:
- give directions via 'Hello Google'
- sell books of stamps
- take a passport photo
- renew your driving licence
- brew up some tea
This is a major Post Office hi-tech innovation - next up...time travel in a Tardis!
Now, instead of going to your post office to access postal services via a friendly local 'postie', you can search for a solar powered postbox that once it has been vandalised by solar panel thieves or graffiti artists writing 'Helch' all over the panels, probably won't work.
But that's progress for you.