Core77

A Potential Killer App for Touchscreens: Restaurant Tables

By Rain Noe - January 3, 2013

in Tech | UX

Aside from cell phones and tablets, we've seen touchscreens integrated into voting machines, vending machines and musical devices. Perceptive Pixel's Jeff Han integrated one into an industrial designer's dream set-up and Adam Benton proposed this desk I'd kill for. But if you look at the physical properties of a proper touchscreen--it's a flat surface that we can use for communications, and the "buttons" disappear when we don't need them—perhaps its true killer app is in restaurants.

At least, that's what Korean electronics company Moneual is hoping, with the rumored forthcoming release of their touchscreen cafe table. With a touchscreen integrated into a table, restaurants could do away with paper menus, instead displaying dish descriptions and photos on demand. Diners would never have to flag a waiter down. And with the NFC technology that Moneual will reportedly integrate into the table, you could pay the bill without having to wait for the check. You'd still need a runner to dole out the chow and a busboy to clean up afterwards, but as a former waiter myself, I'd wholeheartedly vote for an object that made the waiter obsolete.

The rumor mill says Moneual will pull the wraps off of the table at this year's CES, where it just so happens Core77 will be. We'll keep you posted if we come across it.

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Alex

11 years ago

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I already opened such a place in my town and i can say that it is a great idea: less responding waiter time, games, facebook twitter access, our menu responds only on human finger.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=554075481272043&set=a.554075321272059.128420.319410794738514&type=1&theater

www.facebook.com/touchcafe.md
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HD

11 years ago

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Have you guys seen the videos on the 'computer glass?' You can have glass walls put up in your home and by touch you can activate computer screen, television screen on it. It's a concept they are developing, some of it is reality and others are said to be in the near future. The technology would also be used in your car. Newer models of course where the whole dash board lights up and becomes interactive while you are parked. I think they are using fiber optics for the technology. Anyway I think touch screen tables would put a lot of pressure on the lap top industry, especially if they use this concept in coffee shops. The world isn't ready for it in my opinion. But here's another thought. Maybe you can use it to hook your device to it for some purpose?? Laptop, iPhone, iPad, etc.? And then there is the problem of the whole purpose of going to a restaurant or coffee shop, to actually drink or eat something? You need room to put your stuff on the table. A better idea might be to put a screen 'next' to the table on the wall so that maybe you can do both. Throwing them out there is all.
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dongzo

11 years ago

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Is this really the scenario where we want to irreversibly devote limited natural resources? We've got them already, can't we just fiddle with our smartphones some more?
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Razvan

11 years ago

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I agree with Patrick...

when you replace a cozy wooden table with such a cold (phisically and figurative) surface, when you don't give yourself a brake from screens and savour a coffee just chating with the person you are with (by the way, is crazy to see couples not changing a word 90% of their coffee time in a coffee shop each but being emersed in their own smartphones...). I think this is an abuse of technology.

I think designers should think that sometimes, the technology can become our "Achile's heel".

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rukka

11 years ago

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They have them (or something similar) in a couple of Japanese places in London. http://www.inamo-restaurant.com/pc/gallery-videos.php
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Clint

11 years ago

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Experience prototype of just such a table:

https://vimeo.com/10094500
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M4RK

11 years ago

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Its good to see one of MS surfaces ideas evolved. It certainly has its challenges though, such as accidental inputs etc, but poses very real user benefits.
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Mindy Kohn

11 years ago

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This looks super cool! The only problem I see is that a lot of servers would be out of a job. When machines replace human labor, when do you draw the line? At the same time, you can't just tell technology to just stop advancing. Something needs to give here.
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Patrick

11 years ago

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I'm interested to see how our social behavior adapts as touchscreen technology becomes increasingly ubiquitous. I understand that this particular concept is aimed at the cafe environment which has evolved into a personal sanctuary as well as a social gathering place. I see both positives and negatives for the individual user experience as well as the group user experience. In the context of the restaurant environment I question the author's statement "I'd wholeheartedly vote for an object that made the waiter obsolete." I think there's a missing component that would be interesting to discuss. Going out for a meal is an inherently social experience. It's a treat to be waited on, to be fussed over, and I think the waiter/waitress/server plays a big role in that experience.

If the server was completely removed from the equation, how would that alter the dining experience? I don't know that it would necessarily be better...thoughts?
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