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Table Touch Screen Terminals To Replace Waiters

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Jan 9, 2008 3:13 am US/Eastern

Table Touch Screen Terminals To Replace Waiters

High-Tech Interactive, Social Restaurant At Your Fingertips

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Reporting
Kirstin Cole
NEW YORK (CBS) ― From ATM's to pumping your own gas, grocery stores to airports, self-service has come a long way. With the world's technological advances taking enormous strides, what can possibly be next in the world of consumer-driven convenience?

 CBS 2 HD has learned a new trend will be found at your favorite restaurants, allowing customers to place their own orders without the need of servers.

 Ever find yourself unable to get the attention of a waiter? It can be frustrating. But soon that may be a problem of the past thanks to new tableside touch screens.

 "It's cooler placing your own order on the computer than having a waitress come up and do it," restaurant customer Amanda Rosengarten told CBS 2 HD.

 That's because the order goes directly from your fingertips to the kitchen or bar, eliminating the possibility of human error during the transaction process. The new technology is being used at uWink, the latest offering from the founder of Chuck E. Cheese. The company said the new system is providing faster service, fewer mistakes and fewer interruptions.

 "Whenever you want ... that extra glass of wine or a dessert … bingo, it happens right away," said Nolan Bushnell of uWink.

 "It seems a lot more immediate. If I happen to change my mind or need an additional dish, I can order it right away even if the server is busy doing something else," patron Julie Lightner said.

 The National Restaurant Association has labeled self-service technology as one of the industry's top trends to watch, including fast-food restaurants to gourmet.

 "Forty-six percent of all adults in America today indicate a likelihood of using these systems at a restaurant," said Hudson Riehle of the National Restaurant Association.

 Critics fear the trend will lead to less attentive waiters, but Riehle believes the opposite to be true.

 "Many of these systems actually have controls in them which can summon the wait staff upon demand," Riehle said.

 Riehle also told CBS 2 HD some customers will always prefer a full service experience. However, most diners who've used the touch screens are reporting positive feedback, especially, he said, when they're allowed to close their own bills, or play games while they wait.

 "We've had people from all age groups, even seniors, which we didn't expect at all, come back over and over again, having a great time," Bushnell said.

 Many national fast-food chains are currently testing these self-service kiosks in some of their own restaurants and drive-thrus.

(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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