You can in Japan. They're about the size of an 8 1/2 x 11 piece of paper and an inch thick. You can see pictures of all the food and add it to your order by touching it. Then when you want to place your order you press the OK button. They have these in restaurants and Japanese style bars. You can also play games, read news and fortunes on them and they're at every table.

I'm doing a research about it!!! It's very usefull!!!There are already some restaurant using this technology!But it still have to increase the usage :D

nice idea but in my country (germany) i think it takes a while until this will have a public release somewhere.

there is a company that does this sort of thing in the us: menulogic.comfrom what i hear, they went live with their product at the marriott marquis in nyc and the response was positive.

I think this idea is excellent - I have been wondering when this would finally come. It seems so feasable - a screen at each table where the menu is always up to date (anything not available that day, is taken off, and this is immediately reflected on each table's computer!). Drink order and table number are electronically sent to the bar, and food orders and table number are sent to the kitchen. Payment by debit card could be done on the table screen too! The restaurant only needs to employ half as many waiting staff, and accuracy is all but guaranteed! I am interested in a_flama's research, as I am researching this too! There is Bytes in Canterbury, England, Uwink in the USA, and thank you so much to au1650 for telling me about the menulogic company!

Hi, I've been thinking about this idea like 4 months ago. I believe it is good. Actually in this moment I'm doing with other friend a research work about costing and feasibility. If someone of you have already information about this, we can exchange something. Bye!!

I wrote a software for this when worked for a company. In the dinner room, they have a touchscreen system and the employees could select different menu options, when finish, the software emits a ticket and the employees wait in a line to get their selection. The system works very well, so i know your idea is good.

I think this idea is spreading. It is great in that it eliminates waiting for an order to be taken-and then could be used to eliminate waiting for your check afterward (a little paper tape printout could be added beneath the screen for taking to the cash register-or a credit card could be used right at the table).

Hi, I m doing masters in product design from London, as research project I choose touch screen restaurant menu on table. There are some restaurant using this technology, if someone have knowledge related this topic, please convey as its very useful for me to make it more efficient.

Hi all,

This is a GREAT idea and actually there is a company in the UK called Restaurant Innovations that produced an Automated Ordering System called iServe that does exactly what you say!!! Their website is www.restaurantinnovations.co.uk and they have got a video clip which is very cool to illustrate the concept. Check it out.

From what I understand, they also have a protable solution so you can get an electronic menu in your hands.

Instead of a touch screen I would suggest a Nintendo DS – a hand held game device. They have Wi-Fi build-in and cost only $129.00 (US). As long as you keep them in the restaurant they could prove to be very flexable.

In Toronto, they definitely have this available at some Asian tea shops that have cubicle-like areas. But why stop with just getting the waiter's attention? Why not have the full-scale computerized experience that would include order-taking, order verification, and menu browsing?

I co-founded a start-up two years ago with exactly that concept in mind. We developed the .java program and purchased a kiosk on which to run it. Our prototype worked great. It had a wireless printing capability (for orders to be sent to kitchen) and magnetic swiper for credit cards. Unfortunately, we never found investors and had to dissolve our business. That said, I would consider reviving the business under the right conditions. If anyone is serious about implementing the concept, send me an email at: olivier.muyshondt@yale.edu. I learned many lessons along the way (specifically regarding the restaurant industry) that might be helpful in your endeavor.

We have been working on this one for last 7 months. Indeed, a great concept, but this is a Niche' market product. Anybody Interested in Investing in this technology??? :-) ..!!

Now you're thinking! Why stop there? Request more rolls or a refill on your tea..pay your tab and leave a tip, comment or suggestion all from the same screen. This idea is great, especially for people unable to speak.

I have created a touch screen restaurant way back in 1995. With Microsoft surface being launched soon, I think a lot have been done now.

Would make any special orders (hold the mayo) difficult.

We developed the software system for Bytes in Canterbury. This went live in June 2006. We have now developed the system using the experience and feedback from this installation. Our latest version will be installed soon in a chain of restaurants in California.

This idea is great, and is being tested most recently with Microsoft's Surface implementation in select markets. To add to this idea, it would be ideal that touch screens be available in drive-thrus as well, the speakers always suck, and i wouldnt think deaf people are very at ease in the drive-thru lane. Make ordering easy :)

There's a restaurant called Uwink and every table has a screen for ordering everything. The computer was no solution as the service was still poor, the food was horrible, and I couldn't figure out how to call the waiter from the computer screen. Plus, I had to flag someone down to get my receipt.

Lots of restaurants in Asia (and in Koreatown here in LA) have a remote call button on the table--that worked much better.

Great idea indeed. I had a little less technology driven idea along the same lines some time back. The touch screen menu would fit in restuarants that look and feel modern. But in other establishments that have an old world charm, my idea might just fit in a bit better, which is...

To have the regular menu on the table and when you are ready to order, you simply press an intercom button located in the center vase on your table. A sweet voice takes your order, plus you get to tell them to hold the mayo. The kitchen automatically knows which table is placing the order and voila! For all I know, they could be doing this for years too.

someone already mentioned this, but one of microsoft surface's expected entry markets is bars/restaurants for digital order taking and menu display, etc. also there's a restaurant called uWink in hollywood and silicon valley (and opening up around the country) that has a computer (touch screen) you can order your food on and after you order the food, the computer because a networked gaming machine for you, your friends at your table, and the rest of the customers at the restaurant. you can play cooperatively or competitively.

oh, and also, an iphone integration with the restaurant can supplement such touch screen solutions. for instance, order before you get to the cafe and get your latte the second you walk through the door.

I remember in 2001 at the entrance of this Indian restaurant Kamala Vilas [ one of the restaurants in this Mall's FoodCourt,I think in KL or Singapore, when I visited ~ there was a TouchScreen ordering system. When entering the restaurant one could place the order thru this computer and it would give a number slip. The digital-cum-visual display, similar to some Bank Teller counters, would tell us when to go to the counter for collecting our order.

Slightly different concept; what if the waiter has a portable touch screen PDA that has all the menu programmed into it, with room for things to be tweaked (no olives on my pizza please!) once the order is complete its sent wirelessly to the kitchen for the staff to view. this would sort out most of the human error and let the waiter spend more time taking orders than running back and forth with orders (also all the other staff could read there handwriting)

i am looking into this project .. in my country there's noting like this .. anybody here has ever attempted this and i would like some advice plz

Especially good idea if you add nutritional information about each dish, including the ingredients for people who have allergies and have to have the waiter answer their questions.

mwalker103 where are you from, if I may ask?

old idea

I am from India, Bangalore. This is a great idea> Though Bangalore is the silicon city of India, I have not come across any restaurant which has implemented this yet and the market is definitely HUGE. I am keen on exploring this opportunity as a business. Does someone have a business plan which you can share with me? Any experience you have in implementing this solution somewhere. Anyway who may want to partner with me to take this forward?

This Idea is very common in Israel. A friend of mine has a restaurant that uses those emenus. There is a company named Conceptic that created exactly this kind of device. According to my friend it is installed in more than 100 restaurants all over the country. And some of the well known chains in the country are working with the eMenu.

A few months ago there was an article in the newspaper about this company and according to the papers they are the world leading company in this industry .They also have installations in restaurants in London (Planet Hollywood), Moscow & Slovenia.

I think its a great idea and in fact, Im in the process of developing an application and implementing it in my country India. In fact a much more vast version of the idea. I think there is a lot of future for the concept. Cheers

Hello Jibbs,

I have also found this idea very interesting & agree it has great potential in our country (India). I am still at exploration stage of this concept but looks like you have moved ahead towards implementing it. If you are open to it, I'd like to be a part of this venture..... of course, only if you are looking for alliances/partners etc....otherwise, I totally understand. I look forward to hearing from you.

Best RegardsVinaya Mallya

I am doing marketing project about it!!!!!! ıf somebody has more ideas about this product(like which country is most suitable to sell it) and give further information, contact me please.

thanks.

Hi, kvnayak:I am interested in this touch screen menu.. I'd love to implement the concept..Let me know if you are interested ...write to me at pkumar5@nyc.rr.com

interactive menus are a great idea. Check out the eTable system that's been operating at the inamo restaurant in London for over a year now. www.craveinteractive.net

Innovating thinking by poster. However working in IT when I go out it's to get away from technology and enjoy talking to real people. Plus I would rather enjoy the effort put forward by responsible waiters to take care of me. When I want food from a menu, without having to interact with anyone I go through a drive through.

Check out Microsoft Surface. It's designed to do just this -- and much more. There are some really cool videos about it on YouTube.

Why limit the idea to eat-in restaurants like Max and Erma's? Why not also incorporate the idea in fast-food resturants like McDonald's? It would be a great idea for disabled people who couldn't speak at all. And for people who can't read English, incorporate pictures of the food on the menu as well as text. If someone can't recognize food by its written description in a foreign language, they'll certainly recognize it with a picture.

IT IS ALREADY WORKING IN HUNDREDS OF RESTAURANTS: www.conceptic.co.ilThey do it in London Moscow and Israel. they also have distributors in other countries.

Hi Vinaya mallya,

We have implemented this idea to the full extent and we are looking forward to make the business. If u r really interested mail me at jvs.vijaykumar@gmail.com

This is bravo.I am doing a research on this topic as a MBA student and wants to start my own restaurant in future.If some one has more data on this then can contact me on dewansinghsaloni@gmail.com.