week 10

Exercise:

This weeks exercise was to discuss experience prototypes using a video of a payment method concept for paying for restaurant meals in a group.

Q1: What is the existing experience from different viewpoints (customers, waiters, chef, etc):

The customers experience is that paying group bills becomes easier, as the group does not have to discuss how much each individual owes, but can simply pass the device around with each member selecting their own parts to pay for. The customers can also choose alternative payment methods that best suit them, allowing for a more diverse payment system. This device makes it much easier for customers to relax after their meal, rather than worrying over the bill.

The waiters experience is that customers can sort their bills out faster, and have less chance of customers calculating the tip incorrectly. Waiters can also request certain payment methods for tips (ie, requesting reward points rather than cash), allowing them to tailor their tips to suit themselves more. This device makes life easier for waiters.

Q2: What external/internal factors impact on the experience:

The internal factors are group dynamics, such as an individual who may want to dispute what they ordered, or an individual forgetting they ordered something, leading to the full bill not being paid (leading to an argument in the group over who owes what).
The external factors would include the restaurants willingness to take reward points or other non-cash payment methods.

Q3: What aspects of the existing experience could be enhanced/augmented or supported with technology:

A device that shows the progress of their meal in the kitchen (eg, ordered... preparing... cooking... waiting on watier... on route to table... etc). The device would allow users to estimate how long they will be waiting on their food and could spark group discussions about the proceedings in the kitchen.

Q4: How would introducing technology in to this context change the experience:

Introducing technology into restaurants could improve the ease and relaxation of customers, simplify proceedings for waiters and make the restaurant more approachable.

Q5: what expereince scenarios might you test with the technology:

A good scenario to test would be during a peak time for a popular restaurant (possibly friday night for example), where lots of customers would be expected, probably coming in groups. Another good scenario to test would be during a lunch rush, where lots of customers want to be coming and leaving fairly quickly.