2. So what’s a table-top assistant? Virtual Menu Better dining experience More convenient
3. Design Items needed: Cost-efficient Tablet Outlet A table with a thick table top Extra material slider Waterproof skin Optional: Rotating platform
4. Specifications It’s a touch pad built directly into the dinner table that allows you to: Navigate through the menu View pictures of each item/meal listed View a detailed description of nutritional facts Buzz the waiter/waitress for assistance at anytime Designate how you want the bill to be split
5. Restaurants Need This! Improved efficiency Attract more customers Cut back staffing costs
So what’s the table top assistant? Well the table top assistant is essentially a virtual menu (click) that is built into the table. At first you may think “why do I need a virtual menu? I’m perfectly fine with the menus I already use.” But the table-top assistant is so much more than a traditional menu simply converted into a digital format. It offers many convenient and unique features that we will explain to you as we dive into the specifics.My team and I thought of problems we encounter when going out to eat such as: not knowing what a certain entree looks like or a waiters inability to split a check seven ways and decided that the table-top assistant would be a fantastic way to deal with many of these issues. The table-top assistant also would eliminate the inconvenience of messed up orders, so the customer gets what he wants (click) because nothing is more frustrating than to have waited half an hour for your food and receive the wrong order. The table-top assistant helps to correct these inconveniences and others that many of us experience when we decide to go to a nice sit-down meal and would help lead to a more enjoyable dining experience (click).
The design portion consists of cutting out a section of the thick table top to place in the Tablet: (The tablet should be a cheap, green product capable of performing one application). The underside of the table will contain an electrical outlet for the tablet. They will be connected via a small hole on the underside of the table. A larger piece of material will be built on two metal sliders as to hide the tablet when not in use. It can be pulled out when the tablet is needed. The top of the extra material will use a waterproof skin, to prevent any type of spill for getting on the tablet. If the tablet is built into a table that is not a booth, an optional rotating platform can be installed, as to give everyone at the table access to the tablet without patrons having to reach over and disturb others.
-Improves efficiency-Orders sent directly to the kitchen and are clear so there are no mess ups-Waiters/waitresses can focus on just serving the food and taking care of their tables-Not have to worry about the ordering process-Orders can be placed when the customer is ready – not when the waiter gets to them-Allows checks to be split easily because the customer gets to choose which seat # goes on which check-Will attract more customers because they will want to check out the new technology and see how it works-Won’t need as many waiters because the sole purpose of the “Server” is to serve the customer (bring food and drinks plus make sure they have everything the customer needs)
-“Service button” that calls the waiter over-Checkout at the table with credit card swipe-EZ Tip Calculator-Games (buzztime trivia)
