Electronics

Interactive Restaurant Technology might be the regular dining-out experience of the future

Interactive Restaurant Technology might be the regular dining-out experience of the future
An IRT table at Ebony restaurant in Dubai
An IRT table at Ebony restaurant in Dubai
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Ebony restaurant in Dubai
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Ebony restaurant in Dubai
An IRT table at Ebony restaurant in Dubai
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An IRT table at Ebony restaurant in Dubai
Once they've decided on what they want, users simply order it via the table's waterproof touchscreen display, and it's instantly relayed to the kitchen
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Once they've decided on what they want, users simply order it via the table's waterproof touchscreen display, and it's instantly relayed to the kitchen
Oshi restaurant in Cyprus
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Oshi restaurant in Cyprus
While they're waiting for their food to arrive, patrons can use the table to do things like play games, read news, or chat with diners at other tables
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While they're waiting for their food to arrive, patrons can use the table to do things like play games, read news, or chat with diners at other tables
IRT is integrated into the restaurant's point-of-sale terminals
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IRT is integrated into the restaurant's point-of-sale terminals
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Tired of the waiter ignoring you? Perhaps you want to know a bit more about the dishes, such as how they're made and what's in them? Well, the Interactive Restaurant Technology (IRT) system might be for you. It replaces human waiters and paper menus with multitouch tables.

Designed by Ukrainian tech firm Kodisoft, IRT allows users to start by choosing a menu language of their choice. It then displays photos and detailed information on all the entrees, drinks and other items. Once they've decided on what they want, diners simply request it via the table's waterproof touchscreen display, and the order is instantly relayed to the kitchen.

Presumably a human server brings the food out to them, although at least one restaurant has experimented with using drones.

While they're waiting for their food to arrive, patrons can use the table to do things like play games, read news, or chat with diners at other tables – not necessarily the most sociable thing to do if you're not alone at the table, admittedly. The company also offers the option of integrating screens on the walls, bar counters or other surfaces into the system, for purposes such as advertising special menu items or drinks.

While they're waiting for their food to arrive, patrons can use the table to do things like play games, read news, or chat with diners at other tables
While they're waiting for their food to arrive, patrons can use the table to do things like play games, read news, or chat with diners at other tables

Other interactive restaurant systems do also exist, although Kodisoft claims that its is unique in that the display occupies the table's entire surface, it's a backlit LED display instead of one that's projected from above, and it allows users to do more than just place orders ... and yes, one of its stated selling features is that it allows restaurant owners to save money by reducing staff.

So far, IRT is in use in two restaurants – Oshi in Cyprus, and Ebony in Dubai. A third restaurant, however, is scheduled to open at an unstated location this November. Among other things, its system will reportedly recognize returning customers when they place their smartphone on the table, and recommend dishes or drinks based on their previous orders.

Source: Kodisoft

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7 comments
7 comments
JSmith
This is the future although it may be in a different form, I was looking at a menu thinking "Yep, they have Twitter and Facebook" but that's about it just like every other company, boring... where's the QR code where I can hover my tablet/phone to see a nice big HD picture of what I'm going to order. However, this may interrupt the deep mind tricks that restaurants use to make you buy more expensive food.
P.S Not sure about the drones though and keeping data on customers needs to be an opt-in.
exodous
This with a robot to deliver the food and maybe one to sit you down and I don't have to pay any kind of tips ever again!
JPAR
this system would be excellent for an area that has more than one food outlet, such as a food hall. In fact it may lead to larger restaurants where kitchens 'compete' for the diners orders.
Bob Flint
How feasible do you think it is for a drone not only deliver a steaming bowl of soup, but to clean up after it or you have left a mess?
I guess it depends on what you eat, and don't eat, spilt food, and beverages, maybe the screens flip open and everything drops outta sight, or you are restricted to eating directly off the deliver tray...
What is the big fascination with drones, personally I would prefer a perky waitress, including her recommended dishes.
Rann Xeroxx
Once displays dramaticlly come down in price (aka, the foretold wallpaper displays) with touch, I can see this on most restaurant tables. Microsoft Surface (the older name tech by that name) had the ability to allow multiple people to interface with the table at one time. This would allow more than one person to view menus, browse the news, etc. Could also play games as well.
jlua
For the tops in restaurant technology, look at this restaurant, purported to be the most expensive in the World. It is in the island of Ibiza, in Spain. Here is the link;
http://www.sublimotionibiza.com/en/
agulesin
Another way of reducing staff, therefore increasing unemployment. Do the customers clean up after themselves?