Will this change our world?

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   teaches12345posted 13 years ago

   
   Do you think the Ipad "food order" option at restaurants will cause a loss of jobs?  Will it change customer service since the server is merely bringing your order to the table?  Advocates state it will save money and time for restaurants and they will still need servers to monitor tables and maintain customer satisfaction.

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      Muldaniaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I think technology is making our lives too mechanistic and less personal.  I refuse to use the self-service check-outs in supermarkets, because they have already put too many people out of work.

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         WryLiltposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Same here. All 16 year olds need to get a first job somewhere.

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            Greekgeekposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Funny. I've been trying to develop a one-hour "introduction to writing articles for money" workshop I can take to schools so as to teach kids how to start earning $200-500 / month online writing on the internet.
            
            The electric lightbulb put gas lights out of business, but it provided new jobs, too. We do need to unplug, sometimes, just as people didn't need to spend all their time inside once electricity was invented. But it's silly to criticize a changing business paradigm. Just find a new way to make money with it.
            
            As noted above, if the iPad lets people order food faster, then waiters can serve more customers, more efficiently, and get more tips.

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               WryLiltposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               Yes but wouldn't we need less waiters? Business owners aren't likely to keep the same amount of staff on if they can work half as many staff just as hard.
               
               And since most websites require you to be 18+ how would it work getting schoolkids into it? Although it is a good idea.

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                  teaches12345posted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  I am afraid the business owners will cut back some on servers but will have to keep the majority because people still want to have personal interaction.  I believe it will affect the high school and college students most.  Also agree with Greekgeek on inventions that actually create more jobs.  Perhaps restaurants will find a way to add another service enhancement to compensate the ipad usage.  Great idea with the workshop but also look at WryLilt's comment as a flag.  Will have to guide children on responding to commnents and keeping their personal life private.

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   catalystsnstarsposted 13 years ago

   As an avid user of the iPad, I truly believe it has it's benefits and disadvantages. I don't think it's fair to blame technology for losses of jobs or laziness, right down to obesity. Technology will keep getting better and making our lives easier, that's inevitable, it is up to us to become the best we can be. If a person purchases frood from an iPad and does not require a waiter, I see that as a great thing. How many waitresses and waiters do you know who truly love their job and have not been doing it for years on end? Technology is allowing us to free up our time and start enjoying life as it's meant to be. Look back at the 19th century, before cars, before the telephone, before anything that could carry our messages fast from loved ones to another, before we could respond to a nation like haiti immediately after the earthquakes. Are we to complain that the anesthetic used during surgery for some of the victims put the the aid who held the patient down out of work? Are we going to say that the messenger who rode from town to town on the horse no longer had a job and that was terrible? I hate to simplify it like that, but we must look at the simple things. If there are no longer any need for waiters in a restaurant, everybody who was previously considering that position will look elsewhere. It opens up the possibility to look beyond a job that could be done by a machine which actually brings us back to the intelligence that separates us from animals and machines. When it comes down to it, technology will make us realize that we are more powerful and talented than we give ourselves credit for.

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      teaches12345posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Great thoughts to consider.  Technology has brought us a better lifestyle and continue to improve our style of living every day.  I agree with you a closed door only forces us to look beyond to what is open and pursue a new avenue. Hopefully, this ipad option will do this for the population who relies on restaurants for income.

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   Eric Newlandposted 13 years ago

   Maybe an iPad won't interrupt my conversation to ask me if the food is good for the forty-seventh time.
   
   Why would this hurt servers? I would think it would help them be reducing the delay between customer arrival and food service. That means they could potentially wait more tables in a shift and make more tips.

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      teaches12345posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      My husband agrees with your thoughts.  The Ipad ordering option will free up servers to wait on customers faster and restaurants will be able to channel server positions to better use in the restaurant.  I appreciate being asked about my meal's quality and if I need additional service but some restaurants seem to over do it.  Maybe the ipad will help balance this out over time.

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