Interesting yes, as it is has an inherent design flaw due to the very fact of human nature, no one will willingly trade any item for any other item unless the the desired item is of a higher value ( real or perceived) than the one they are trading for it.
Please, This a smelly pile of utopian carp* (*sorry, I'm dyslexic) so, who's going to pay for the electricity to run this modern marvel?
, I'm assuming that someone obtained a grant ( IE: a sucker) to pay for this art concept.
Now consider the last paragraph in the "report" ...
"The Swap-o-Matic is admittedly more of an art project, but it’s in the same spirit. And while it may not “save the Earth” (
we’ll need cap-and-trade for that), it may get people thinking about their consumption habits in a helpful way."
But hey, it's in New York, so have at it. & have a go at the three-card Monte tables while your in town too. it would prove interesting to see how long it takes for someone to donate some Solyndra stock.
my two cents anyway...