Core77

CES 2013: Moneual's Touchscreen Cafe Table

By Rain Noe - January 9, 2013

in UX | Consumer Electronics

The rumors were true, and we finally got to see the touchscreen cafe table produced by Korean manufacturer Moneual. It's officially called the Touch Table PC MTT300, and there's a little more to it than sticking a tablet on a table.

First off, the invisible stuff: It's an Intel/Windows 7/Android/Nvidia-powered affair, and features two hidden speakers, though the model hired to flog the table couldn't say what the audio was meant to accomplish—perhaps feedback for button touches? As for the visible, the screen has a resolution of 1920 x 1080. The demo models we saw all had the menu taking up the entire screen and oriented just one way; will it be split up and oriented for two people, or even four? Or must the menu be swipe-rotated towards each person who wants to order? Again, the rep didn't know. (I'm starting to get frustrated with this aspect of CES).

As for the physical design, the side of the table features two USB ports, a mic jack and a headphone jack. They're located underneath the table, presumably to avoid spills that run over the edges, and their presence is indicated by icons:

Not the legs the table comes with

Not the legs the table comes with

Ditto for a other buttons like power, volume up/down, reset, menu, and whatever "auto" does:

When it comes time to settle up, there's an NFC reader up top and a conventional card reader on the side, but they're both located on just one side of the table. This will make it awkward on first dates when one person offers to pay and the other makes that half-hearted feint like they're going to grab the check; now you'll have to make a half-hearted feint like you're going to stretch all the way across the table to the card reader.

By the way, that gross patina of fingerprints you see in the photo of the NFC reader covers the entire table. Reminds us that the table will need to be well-cleaned between diners, and/or that germophobes may want to wash their hands after ordering.

o

Favorite This
Q
6

Comment

Comments

Dale Manton

11 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

This is designed for one user? yes? History will show that more than one person would normally sit at a restaurant table.

http://www.interactivity.com.au/solutions/interactive/interactive-table-bar/

The design has to allow for more than 1 user. It looks very sexy. But is impractical for conventional use. If you want to know how to keep the sexy but allow for normal use, let me know. dalem@interacivity.com.au
!Report as spam
Jon

11 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

You're right about having to move plates etc to see screen....how about one like this http://flic.kr/p/dBHGS5
Yes, shmaless self-promotion. I built it myself.
!Report as spam
DJ

11 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

Shame about the legs...
!Report as spam
Vincent

11 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

A resto in Montreal already use this:
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=m2vzoxg8aQM&feature=youtu.be&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dm2vzoxg8aQM%26feature%3Dyoutu.be&gl=GB

http://iburger.net/iBurger_site/the_concept.html

!Report as spam
kostas

11 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

In order to see what's on my table (screen) I'll have to take my meal on my laptop!
Nice legs, though :)
!Report as spam
George

11 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

It's interesting that this is a (potentially more focused/cheaper) approach to one of the MS Surface (original "table" form-factor) use cases. Any word on how the table is different from Surface (functionality/pricepoint)?

Also, I'd just like to mention that this concept was presented as space-age technology by Cowboy Bebop circa 1998/9. Go us (I'm still waiting for my spaceship/houseboat, though).
!Report as spam