Technology has played a major role through new approaches that bring changes every day in the life. Computer applications that run on laptops and computers have been driven by clicking and dragging a mouse. For the mouse-driven screen, the operation needs a mouse connected to the computer screen or PC. Over the years, technology has changed and improved the interaction capabilities leading to the new trend, which is multi-touch technology. Most fast-food restaurants have utilized the multi-touch screen technology, which has improved the service delivery efficiency to the clients, thus building a competitive advantage. Touchscreen-based interactivity has rapidly changed to mandatory requirements for displayed used in different equipment such as vending machines (Jokisuu and McKenna, Smith and Day, 2015). This paper will focus on interaction types and styles that apply to multi-touch screens, the conceptual model for designing a product for the restaurant, and tools in an application for mouse-driven and touchscreen-based operations.
Interaction Types and Styles that apply to Multi-touch Screens and Applications
Human-computer interaction has led to different interaction styles available for program developers to facilitate communication between the computer system and the user. The interaction types and styles that apply to multi-touch screens include instructing, manipulating, conversing and exploring (Issa and Isaias, 2015). Instructing entails the user issuing instructions or commands to a system. This can be applied in several ways: selecting options from the menus, typing in commands, speaking or gesturing. For instance, in a fast-food restaurant, the multi-touch screen allows the users to execute different commands faster through the various touchpoints and visibility. This interaction type will enable the employees and customers to press the menu to select the item for their orders. Menus, Icons and control keys will improve the usability command to ensure that interactions are efficient and quick.
Conversing entails the users having a dialogue with the system (Kasemsap, 2018). This allows the users to interact with the interface by typing in something the system replies to through speech or text output. The conversational interactions are like user system dialogue that is used for help systems. In this case, the restaurant will not require conversational interactions since there are no voice commands while taking orders. Manipulating entails interaction with objects in a physical or virtual space through manipulation. This allows the users to have a visual representation of objects they are capable of interacting with. The layout of items on the menu will enable the user to get and choose their preferences easily. Manipulation will allow the natural representation of actions and objects such as products available and the tangible evidence of the offerings.
Exploring allows browsing interactions to search structured information (Kasemsap, 2018). This entails users moving through physical space or virtual environment. Virtual settings include augmented and virtual reality systems and 3D works. The customers will use an electronic tablet-based menu to explore the menu offerings in the restaurant. For instance, users can easily move things on the screen and scroll them or even make them bigger to view the pictures of a new meal that they would like to experience. E-tablet menus will rely on exploration interactions with parameters of menu usability and order information. This will enhance the service experience, especially the ordering process for the customers.
Conceptual Model for POS system
The conceptual model for designing the POS system will be based on two building blocks functional integration and strategic fit. Strategic fit focuses on the idea that the IT strategy needs to be articulated in the internal and external domains. The external domain means how the restaurant is positioned in the market, while the internal domain is how the IT infrastructure is integrated and managed.
Functional integration entails operational and strategic integration. Strategic integration is the link between the IT strategy and business strategy, reflecting the external elements which are essential for many companies. Operational integration entails the internal domain and focuses on the link between the organizational processes and infrastructure of the IT processes and infrastructure. Ideally, the POS system will be developed to meet the needs of a variety of clients.
The restaurant POS system will have all the operational phases and all individuals involved, including the employees, suppliers, managers, guests, and owners. The images and layout on the screen will be strategically categorized and placed to select items easily. Metaphors will be implemented during the designing of the interface, which will enable the user to identify easily the images that will be associated with the item they need. Real metaphors will make it easy for the end-user to learn and understand the interface, which means minimal errors in completing tasks.
Key Analogies and Concepts
The key analogies for mouse-driven and touch-based monitors are the ease of use, assistive technology, and speed in selecting menu items. The touchscreen monitors have a benefit over mouse-driven screens due to the ease of use. A touch screen has the practice of touching icons on the screen, which saves time while dragging the mouse. This will enable the employees to execute orders, thus increasing efficiency.
Touch screens increase the speed of operation as compared to mouse-driven screens due to the touch interface. There is always a moment of uncertainty in the mouse pointer’s location and mouse movement horizontally and vertically. Touch and mouse-driven screens have assistive technology, but the touch screens reduce the physical issues linked to the mouse setup to use. The multi-touch screen has a control display that relies on the conductive touch of a human finger.
The layer of capacitive material on the touch screens allows the screen to sense the different changes at each point (Kim, Lee and Yun, 2011). This allows the screen to determine the movement and location of touches in different locations. For instance, the multi-touch screen will enable one to hold and select an object, double-tap with one finger to zoom and press buttons on the screen.
Tool in Application that should be designed with recall/memory retention
There are varying tools and utilities for mouse-driven and multi-touch based screens that should be structured with memory retention. Clipboard would be the most effective tool to include memory retention. The clipboard is what wallows one to cut, copy and paste a text or image. The clipboard tools allow a file or document to be copied and pasted. Therefore, the information must be maintained to ensure that the right information is moved to the desired position. The clipboard tool is also considered the pasteboard, which allows storage of data in the computer that can be copied, pasted, or removed.
Conclusion
The touchscreen monitor will be used in running the menu ordering application since it’s more efficient. It offers more ease of use, assistive technology, and speed in the selection of menus. Applying the interactions styles will make the ordering process easy and efficient, thus improving and streamlining the restaurant’s operations. Generally, a multi-touch screen in menu ordering makes it simple for the customers and staff.
