Week 6 - "Digital" Menus

For this week's blog entry, I won't be talking about something in particular, but rather an idea I came across recently. Being a Senior, I've been receiving a ton of emails from companies letting me know about information sessions, positions and so on. One of those emails was from a group called Clarity Consulting and, while I'm not really sure what I would be doing there if I actually applied for a job, they did have some neat interface work in one of their videos. One of the most interesting things that caught my eye were the "digital" menus they made. By digital, I mean menus that are on a computer screen and allow you to choose food that way as opposed to in person. While some people have probably thought of this idea before, I suppose I was so used to doing it in person that the thought had never really crossed my mind, but it does make sense.

There are many reasons a digital menu is a good idea. For one, I know there are certain things I forget to say or ask about and, if I had to step through a digital menu, I would run across each option page and be reminded of what I actually want (everyone gets the "ordering jitters" every now and again where they just kind of blank on what they are ordering, right?). Another reason, and a more practical one, would be the ability to see a more full version of what you are getting. For those with poor eyesight, the closer menu would be a welcomed relief and for those who need to see what they are ordering before they actually do (does anyone really know the different between all those different Italian noodles?), it would also be helpful because each option could include a "close-up" or enlarged image of the product. A third reason might be to eliminate awkward interactions with cashiers. I'm not saying cashiers are bad at their job or that I want to run people out of a job, but there are times I'd just rather punch a view buttons, get an order number and grab my food. Now, something some might consider to be a problem would be payment, but they have self-checkouts at grocery stores and the payment would essentially run the same way.

Besides the reason for such an idea to be implemented in full force, there also has to be some discussion on how such an idea would need to be implemented. Fr starters, the main screen might have the different categories of food, for example, the meals, side orders, drinks and desserts. Once you enter a category, let's say meals, you would then have a familiar layout to the menu you normally see above and behind the counter except that when you select a meal it would show you an enlarged image of what you are ordering as well as move you through further ordering steps. For an example, let's say you go to McDonald's. One might choose to look at the meals and then choose the cheeseburger. For there, the next screen might be what you actually want on the cheeseburger where the standard options are already chosen, but can bee deselected if desired. From there, you might choose between the different fry options (if there are different options) and then what kind of drink. After that, you would be able to choose what size meal you want and then would be returned to the main screen with your recent choice added to a list (probably on the right hand side of the screen) that lists what you have ordered. Once you have fund and added everything you want, you would "check out", receive a number and then pick up your food when ready.

All in all, such an addition to restaurants would serve a definite purpose. On a more important level, while there are those who might argue such a system would cause people to lose jobs that are important in that they can be offered to almost anyone from any background, I don't think these machines would eliminate the need for some personal interaction in the places that use these. Furthermore, if a cost effective means could be employed in the future, it would be great to see these menus at sit-down restaurants as well because there are so many more in-depth options at these places and, personally, I want to see a picture of everything being offered and with paper menus that isn't a realistic possibility in most situations. Additionally, the waitress would not have to keep "pestering" a table of slow decision makers when they could choose at their own pace via the menu.