In the coming weeks UK and Irish shoppers will be able to have a go on "robotically operated DVD rental kiosks", with one such machine being launched as a trial in a Tesco Ireland store initially that could see the concept rolled out in 2008.

The kiosks, which offer users touchscreen access to a range of new release movies are called "Movie Booths" that let users to rent movies on a pay-as-you-go basis from a fully automated vending machine, offering a "modern alternative" to the traditional high street DVD rental store.

Customers use a touchscreen system to select and rent their movies, and it takes three steps to rent a film from the kiosk with prices at £2 per movie.

Users touch the screen to use the menu to select the DVD they want, insert their credit or debit card for payment and then collect the DVD from the slot, returning it when they are done.

The current trials with Tesco, Centra and Applegreen could lead to national deployment of the DVD kiosks - so look out for one in a store near you soon.