Table Notifier Tool - Coursework Example

Table Notifier Table Notifier Introduction Many restaurants are increasingly adopting innovative ways such as table notifiersand paging systems to help address the problem of table allocations and customer waiting times. The proposed table notifier is a simple but powerful built in table system that will make it significantly easier for restaurant customers to find tables without the assistance of waiters. In many busy or crowded restaurants, customers are normally faced with the challenge of finding a table and may be occasionally be forced to stand for several minutes as they wait for the assistance of the waiters. In most cases, people who love to eat out often have to wait for so long before the waiters or hostesses are able to notice them and serve them. These long waits may drive guests and potential customers away from the restaurant (Dahl, 2004, p.54). Table notifier is a perfect tool that will potentially help restaurant owners not only to improve the efficiency of their services but also to enhance their customer satisfaction. For example, by making it easier for the customers to find tables without having to wait for the assistance of the waiters, the proposed table notifier will significantly help minimize the cases of walk-ways by improving the communication and coordination between the staff and the customers thereby leading to faster services. According to Ninemeier and Hayes (2006, p. 78), the need to develop innovative table management systems in restaurants is particularly attributed to the inefficiencies and time wastage that normally occurs when guests have to wait for the waiters to help them find empty tables before they are able to make their orders. As a result, the innovative table notifier is primarily designed to provide a lasting solution to the number one challenge that is currently facing many restaurants.This is particularly important in the hospitality industry because happy and satisfied guests often translate into returning customers. This paper documents the creative and technical aims of the table notifier project, technologies to be used as well as the expected project development process. Fig 1: A sketch diagram of the proposed table notifier system Creative and Technical Aims of the Project One of the most critically important technical and creative aims of the development of this application is to improve service efficiency at the restaurants. The traditional restaurant service systems where ordering and securing a table is largely dependent on the availability of waiters is increasingly posing a serious challenge especially to the busy customers. When using the table notifier, the seating efficiency particularly at the restaurants is potentially achieved by streamlining table management manual activities and maximizing seat allocation. For example, the design of the table notifier ensures automation of common restaurant operations such as table allocation, waiter –guest communication and food ordering. The other important objectives of this project include: i. To reduce the waiting time in restaurants as well as improve the overall customer experience. ii. Improve the average table turn times at the restaurants. iii. Reduce noise at the restaurant by eliminating the need for noisy announcements and restricting communication between waiters and customers to LED lights and vibrations. How It Works/Technologies Used The main items needed to make the proposed built in table notifier include a table, Red and blue LED light, Red LED, Glass mirror, sensor, and a vibro box. First and foremost, the project requires a table with a little glass fixed at the center where the red LED lights can be projected to the glass roof for the customers and guests to see. Both the red LED light fixed at the centers of the tables as well as the bi colored red and blue light emitting diodes fixed along the edges of the tables will require simple electronic control circuits to regulate the blending and diffusion of red and blue colors based on the signals from the sensor at the bottom of each table. The visual signals are then reflected or projected on the glass roof where they convey the message to both the customers and the waiters. On the other hand, sensors are placed just under the table to sense customers sitting. Generally, the sensors will consist of simple pyroelectric infrared sensors that can effectively detect the presence of humans through body heat variations that occur before relaying the information including the specific table number to the vibro box at the waiters stand as shown in figure 1. One of the most popular methods of sensing human presence that are currently widely used for various applications is the use of an integrated PIR infrared sensor device. There are a number of human body infrared detection sensors that are readily available in local electronic shops that can be modified and used as sensors for the proposed table notifier system by installing them at appropriate locations under each of the tables in the restaurant. Another important sensor technology that can be integrated with the table notifier system is electric field sensing whereby a system of capacitors are used to accurately detect the presence and location of people with a relatively good accuracy. The basic operating mechanism of electric filed sensors is that when an AC signal is applied to any given capacitor plate, a similar signal is usually induced on the receiving plate (Stogdale, 2003, p.468). In this regard, the presence of humans between the transmitter and the receiver may cause detectable changes in the received current. When these sensors are installed under the tables, the presence of humans (guests) around the tables, the resultant changes of electric current at the receiving plate are converted into signals and relayed to h the signal light emitting diodes (LED) as well as the vibro box at the waiters bar/stand. Lastly, as one of the main signaling systems, the red and blue LED will be put around the table specifically along the edges. In this regard, the system will be designed in such a way that the blue LED goes on when the table is occupied but switches to red LED when the table is empty. This is particularly achieved by using a light emitting diode that change between red and blue depending on the input signals. Fig 2: Red LED light to be fixed at the center of the table At the same time, when a table is occupied, a vibro box connected with the table will automatically vibrate at the waiters section to alert the waiters that a customer is already seated at the particular table displayed in the vibro box. According to Cholewiak and McGrath (2006, p.47), most of the common light weight vibration box are not only easy to install or assemble but is mechanism of operation is also simple to understand. The vibration box to be used in the proposed offers an excellent channel of communication between the customers and the waiters at the waiter bar. For example, once the waiters have brought the food menu to the table, the customer can then press a button placed at the table to alert the waiters and his/her order. Fig. 3: The layout of the proposed table notifier system Alternative Table Management Systems With the rapidly evolving technology, a number of customer service systems that work almost the same way as the proposed table notifier system have been developed. One of the most popular methods of streamlining restaurant seating process is the electronic pager systems that may also be integrated with the SMS system to alert customers when tables are empty. However, the downside of most of these alternative seating management options is that they are usually expensive to install and maintain. Potential Advantages of the Table Notifier System Although the table notifier system is primarily designed for the restaurant industry, it can also be ideally used in a wide range of other areas including bars, auto dealers among others. One of the most important advantages of the proposed table identifier system over most of the common restaurant table management systems that are currently in the market is that it is simple to install and does not require contract or cover fees. For example, the system does not require internet or software installation and the entire installation process can easily be carried out by restaurant owners. Additionally, one of the most important steps to making profits in the restaurant industry is to elevate customer experience by automating the seating procedures to make them as fair and smooth as possible. An organized restaurant seating procedure that shows are and courtesy to the guests is likely to help build a lasting first impression on the customers. The intuitive restaurant table management system also significance help reduce the amount of time or labor required to manage table allocations as well as the time taken by guests to find tables and be seated. In this regard, the proposed table notifier can significantly increase the profits of a restaurant by helping the management to seat more guests and improve customer experience. Lastly, with regard to reduction of noise at the restaurant by eliminating the need for noisy announcements, the use of vibro box alert system is critically important. This is particularly because restaurants are sometimes loud and hectic and may be staffed with many people speaking different languages. As a result, any busy restaurant will potentially benefit from the vibration alerts. At the same time, the LED light offers a way of illuminated communication that is not only non intrusive but can also maintain ambience especially in high-end eateries and restaurants. References Cholewiak, R. W. & McGrath, C. 2006. Vibrotactile Targeting in Multimodal Systems: Accuracy and Interaction. New York: Naval Aerospace Medical Research. Dahl, J. O. 2004. Restaurant Management, Principles and Practice (9th ed.). London, UK: Harper & brothers. Ninemeier, J. D, Hayes, D.K. 2006. Restaurant Operations Management: Principles and Practices. Upper Saddle River, N.J: Pearson Prentice Hall. Stogdale, N. 2003. Array-based infra-red detection: An enabling technology for people counting, sensing, tracking, and intelligent detection. In Proceedings of SPIE. 50 (9), p.465-488. Read More