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                                     Sketch/ideationUpdated system for indoor ordering09–12–2023 When I first watched the video, “A Restaurant that Mar-rye can’t go,” I quickly gathered just based on the first few minutes that there was an issue regarding members of the older generations and how they operate with advanced technology to do everyday tasks such as ordering a meal. 

From watching the video,  the viewer can clearly see that Mar-rye is frustrated with the new ordering system at her local McDonalds. She expresses annoyance that she cannot use cash on the machine, making having a card absolutely necessary to order food.  

Some problems she had with the experience was that she could not read the text, making it more difficult to order the right meal. She could not differentiate between certain menu items, such as the coke and coffee.  It’s obvious to tell that Mar-rye and other people in her generation prefer being served rather then operating on a self-serving system.  She described her being required  to read the receipt and having to pick up food as something akin to ‘going to the bank’. 

The main problem I wanted to address in my sketch for a more accessible system was the digital alienation of the older generation. A question I had when exploring this issue was why exactly was the new structure preferred? From simply looking up the question, I found that this new system is preferred because it is considered more convenient, has better customization options, and transactions are considered more efficient. So while I want to update the system to be based less in self-serving, I also don’t want to lose out on these benefits from the new structure. 

      
                                 For a more accessible system, in my design, I decided to incorporate an option that would allow customers to use cash, no longer making having a card with your person a necessity. The Touch to Start label that appears on screen is considerably bigger, with a hand-pointing symbol to accompany it. This change is added to emphasize to the customer, especially to one unfamiliar with this kind of technology, what to do so that they may begin to order. As for the general look/aesthetic of the machine, I wanted to go for a more nostalgic design. Essentially, I want customers to be reminded of an older, more colorful McDonald’s. While the design is silly and perhaps flashy, I think for some customers, they may feel more comfortable ordering from a machine that reminds them of a vintage McDonald’s.  

And to fix the issue regarding tiny texts and some customers not being able differentiate between the many different menu items, I believe allowing the user to magnify the screen would help lessen any mistakes in ordering. The user would be able to zoom into any area of the screen using their fingers, making labels and menu images appear bigger. 










                       Concerning the service design, I was thinking of incorporating a server ai so that if the customer would rather have their order taken rather than manually putting in the order themselves,  they could have that option even in the digital world. The purpose of this ai would be to accommodate those, particularly the older generation, who feel the new system is too self-serving. Through the added speaker, the ai would be able to audibly respond to the customer in a happy manner and process their order.  Once the customer’s order is ready, the ai could voice that at the front, making the interaction more organic than if the customer were to just look at a screen.
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