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Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible

(slate.com)
527 points lxm | 5 comments | 29 Jun 21 03:25 UTC | HN request time: 0.68s | source
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sksksk ◴[29 Jun 21 08:51 UTC] No.27673432[source]▶
When they work well, they're really good, but when they work badly, they're _really_ bad.

The other week, I went for dinner at a place that had a online ordering system. My experience was as follows...

Arrive at the table, scan the QR code

No phone signal in the restaurant, so I need to connect to the wifi.

Connect to the wifi, get a captive portal

Need to put my phone number in to connect to the wifi; there is no signal, so I need to go outside, to receieve the confirmation code.

Connected to the wifi, scan the code again, choose my food.

Go to pay, need to register an account

Put my email address in, I already have an account on this food ordering service!?

Do a password reset

Put in my credit card details (why not use apple pay?).

This whole time, we're sat at a table, in theory to meet friends, but we've spent the first 15 minutes all glued to our phones!

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resonious ◴[29 Jun 21 13:18 UTC] No.27675356[source]▶
On the general topic of "technology in restaurants", I've noticed an increasing number of restaurants where the waitstaff uses phones/tablets with some kind of specialized app. This happens often: we start telling them our order, and they have to say "wait a sec.... (taps phone for several seconds) okay what was that?". The "UX" as a patron is pretty bad compared to the waitstaff just whipping out a notepad and scribbling as we order, or better yet memorizing the orders.
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1. jimbokun ◴[29 Jun 21 13:36 UTC] No.27675569[source]▶
My favorite UX mental game is "Can you describe the paper interface as a new, innovative system relative to the technology solution?"

So with the paper pad waitress experience:

1. Responsive, zero latency interactions. 2. Accepts free form text entry. 3. No multi step UI control lookups. 4. Allows entry of customer modifications and requests to items. 5. Allows custom abbreviations.

Etc. etc.

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2. jmkb ◴[29 Jun 21 14:33 UTC] No.27676335[source]▶
Supports every written alphabet out of the box, including custom emoji. Compatible with any brand of stylus. Can run thousands of games. Can go years without a charge. Never needs OS updates. Sustainable, recyclable, compostable.

Flashlight mode doesn't last very long, though.

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3. dylan604 ◴[29 Jun 21 14:41 UTC] No.27676474[source]▶
I see this as the beginnings of a comedy bit. A group of people around a confernece table with someone presenting their slide deck. Maybe the conference table is replaced with "sharks" in cushy chairs?? At the end the presenter says "and now let me show you my invention" while reaching into back pocket to whip out a spiral bound note pad with a pencil in the spiral. "Oh, one more thing... It comes with its own iPencil holder"
4. jamil7 ◴[29 Jun 21 14:41 UTC] No.27676476[source]▶
> Flashlight mode doesn't last very long, though.

Is flashlight mode when you set it on fire?

5. hypertele-Xii ◴[29 Jun 21 15:44 UTC] No.27677527[source]▶
> Compatible with any brand of stylus.

Well except, you know, literally a stylus.