Well... there goes the weekend.
Apr. 11th, 2004 11:45 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
wolfwingsOn a random note, and the basis for this journal entry...
I just went to a Carl's Junior that had self-order kiosks as part of a beta-test program.
As in, nobody but me, a menu, and time to decide what I want, and HOW I want it. No 'Did you say with or without tomatoe?' bullshit, just a big fat checkbox or no checkbox next to each topping. Also lets you know very neatly what toppings you can or can't have.
Very, very slick. And very nice, something I hope works for them.
Only two features I hope they add is some way to buy a 'swipe card' that you can program your own combos into, and a way to disable the 'voice prompts' for those that know what to do. A true 'have it your way' where you swipe your CJ card, press 'Personal Combo #1', hit done, pay, then sit down and wait.
Adjust a couple things, like make it more obvious that you click on the item in the item-box to change the toppings, and make the 'pay now' button a little more noticable, and it'll be very nice.
And you know what? I don't think it will lose any 'real' jobs. They still need as many people washing tables, and cooking food. At most, they'll have far, far fewer people that need to handle actual money, and less people needing to work the cash registers is a good thing, spread those folks out to watch the soda machine to keep it full, do maintenance, etc, etc. And it will create jobs, by adding a higher-tech component to the existing job set for a fast food restraunt, to maintain the self-order kiosks.
Sadly, I doubt they'll succeed, because I saw hordes of regulars ignore them to mob the single cashier. I think a good part of that might be that the kiosks run a video loop that has a flashy CJ logo floating around, and occasionally flash 'ORDER HERE' on the screen. Thankfully, the video loop is silent, and definately not an ad loop. There're more ads on the windows that coming that the video terminal, which I can only say is a good thing, and left a note saying as much.
I just went to a Carl's Junior that had self-order kiosks as part of a beta-test program.
As in, nobody but me, a menu, and time to decide what I want, and HOW I want it. No 'Did you say with or without tomatoe?' bullshit, just a big fat checkbox or no checkbox next to each topping. Also lets you know very neatly what toppings you can or can't have.
Very, very slick. And very nice, something I hope works for them.
Only two features I hope they add is some way to buy a 'swipe card' that you can program your own combos into, and a way to disable the 'voice prompts' for those that know what to do. A true 'have it your way' where you swipe your CJ card, press 'Personal Combo #1', hit done, pay, then sit down and wait.
Adjust a couple things, like make it more obvious that you click on the item in the item-box to change the toppings, and make the 'pay now' button a little more noticable, and it'll be very nice.
And you know what? I don't think it will lose any 'real' jobs. They still need as many people washing tables, and cooking food. At most, they'll have far, far fewer people that need to handle actual money, and less people needing to work the cash registers is a good thing, spread those folks out to watch the soda machine to keep it full, do maintenance, etc, etc. And it will create jobs, by adding a higher-tech component to the existing job set for a fast food restraunt, to maintain the self-order kiosks.
Sadly, I doubt they'll succeed, because I saw hordes of regulars ignore them to mob the single cashier. I think a good part of that might be that the kiosks run a video loop that has a flashy CJ logo floating around, and occasionally flash 'ORDER HERE' on the screen. Thankfully, the video loop is silent, and definately not an ad loop. There're more ads on the windows that coming that the video terminal, which I can only say is a good thing, and left a note saying as much.
Hmm....
Date: 2004-04-11 10:17 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-04-12 11:00 am (UTC)> And you know what? I don't think it will lose
> any 'real' jobs.
'real' jobs? First off, that's arrrogant as hell. :( That cashier job is 'real' as you put it to the person doing it for a living and getting a paycheck! And whatever you may do for a living is NO BETTER than that persons' job. They're working, it may not be glamourous as a tech job, but by god they're working and I respect that. If I am wrong by what you meant by 'real' job, I apologize, but I'm kind of fed up with the 'look down your noses at lesser work' attitudes I've encounter among techies. An honest day's work is an honest day's work, whether its as a cashier or a computer programmer.
And you're kidding yourself if you believe there will be no job losses. They'll not reassign the cashiers to cleaning or kitchen (they already got enough to run now now) rather they will just fire them and chain management will pocket bonuses for 'cutting costs'. Same with any waiters or waitresses lost....more 'cost cutting' bonuses for management. We're losing jobs the high-salary and middle-salary ranges of our economy, last thing we need is to eliminate jobs in our low-end...where will these people find jobs if this catches on?
> And it will create jobs, by adding a higher-tech
> component to the existing job set for a fast food
> restraunt, to maintain the self-order kiosks.
Well, if you count minimum wage workers trained just enough to maintain a terminal with little or no job security or benefits 'higher tech' (Yes, these are the people that maintain the few automated checkouts supermarkets here are experimenting with, I've talked with a couple of them at the supermarket). Most of these subcontractor 'tech' places even require their technicians to use their own cars and supply their own tools (with minimum mileage reimbursement).
> Sadly, I doubt they'll succeed, because I saw
> hordes of regulars ignore them to mob the single
> cashier.
I would go to the cashier myself. It keeps someone who needs a job employed, doesn't lead to 'tech' jobs that really aren't PLUS its a whole lot more 'human' than hitting buttons on a panel and swiping a card.
Our society, thanks to the 'geek' mindset and gadgetry-worship, is losing much of the simple contact with others and in effect, becoming more machine-like and cold, IMO. Not to mention the negative impact on employment. At some point, we as a society have to say 'Sure we can automate that, but its detrimental if we do, so we won't'.
No, I am NOT a luddite, I hold a BS in Electrical Engineering, worked 3 years with a major automotive manufacturer and spent the last decade in the IT field...BUT I am a firm believer keeping in tech in its place and used in a way that is not detrimental to our society at large.
Bad choice of words, but my sentiment still holds.
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Date: 2004-04-12 09:49 pm (UTC)Yeah, people are afraid of change...and employeese fear being replaced...Not sure what to say to either of those issues. If it works, use it. It's certainly efficient, because if your meal is screwed up, it's your own fault. It keeps employeese in the back so they can make the orders, and saves a lot of worry with money and such.
*shrugs* It'd get my vote at least :>
Hee!
Date: 2004-04-13 01:03 am (UTC)As well, it's MUCH quicker when you know what you want -- or when it's busy.
I do like the 'personal combo' idea, as well as the idea of 'card maintains a balance' like a gift-card. Since CJs actually takes plastic, it's a good idea.
(no reason the registers themselves couldn't take those cards, either -- swipe it, say 'personal combo 1' to the cashier, and you instantly have the meal you want without having to hold up the line.)