Concept

The vision of this project is to create a technological product for consumer satisfaction in the hospitality or tourism industry. Businesses are very competitive for every customer in the hospitality sector. In other words, without customers there is no business.  Technological innovation, specifically the use of multi-touch screens, demonstrates how the hospitality industry can provide more interesting environments for customers.

Touch screen restaurant tables can fascinate people and give them more opportunities in their dining experience. Diners sit down in front of multi-touch displays which act as a serving table. The multi-touch table displays to the customer a ‘virtual plate’, allowing customers to visualize full meals before the actual food arrives at their table. On the right and left side of the table, there are icons which allow the consumer to easily navigate around the menu system (e.g. drinks and food selection, internet browsing). Users of this multi-touch table can manage everything from the table, thus eliminating the need for a waiter and having to take time to distract him or her. Without stress or rush, customers are able to plan what they want and when. Every dish has a description of its ingredients, including important notes for vegetarians or people sensitive to certain food substances.  Also, the price of every dish is displayed next to the description, allowing the customer to know how much each dish costs. At any time, the diner can decide to order a meal simply by clicking on the option ‘send food’, sending the food order directly to the kitchen. Whilst the customer waits for a meal to arrive, the customer can still be entertained. Multi-touch tables have many different options for diners to interact and have fun with their fellow diners. If the customer wishes to see how their meal is being prepared, there is an option to view the kitchen via webcam, directly from the table. There are also entertainment options for children, such as video and board games. Changing the ‘virtual tablecloth’ to suit the diner’s mood or interests is also possible. At the same time, customers can check the bill anytime throughout the dining experience. Bluetooth technology has been incorporated into multi-touch tables which give the option to download pictures and photos from cameras, mobile phones, and other Bluetooth devices, to the multi-touch surface. The camera needs to be Bluetooth enabled for pictures to be downloaded to the table. Pictures can be moved around the surface and any side, and can be manipulated to different sizes.

Also paying bills straight from the table, it makes the dining experience full interactive. For example, paying by credit card; diners can simply move with their finger ‘pictures of their meals and drinks’ to the card.