Wonder how long before that Pret 'menu exploration' board becomes an self service ordering panel? pic.twitter.com/hEOpjrftpx
— Liam Brennan (@LCBrennan) September 28, 2019
She ducked into the coffee shop to wait for the self-drive. She placed her panel on the screen and the screen came to life: “Chris, hi. Your usual? judging by your stress level and expression, maybe a pick-up? Sam’s being a handful? Let me add an extra shot… on the house.” A moment’s quiet and then: “Hi Sam, so you’re ordering for yourself now? That’s great. That one? well I’m not sure that’s as good for you as your mum would like. Let’s ask her… Chris?” She pushed the buggy away slightly. Just far enough so he couldn’t touch anything.
It had begun to rain so she pushed the buggy into the coffee shop. She had a few minutes before the self-drive arrived — her wrist told her it was still driving around rather than parking up. Time for a coffee. She place her palm on the screen and the screen came to life, whispering in her hearable: “Chris, hi. I’d suggest your usual but judging by your stress level and expression, looks like you need a pick-up. Judging by Sam’s expression, he’s not dropped off has he? Let me add an extra shot… on the house, this time.”
She barely took any notice of the voices any more. Just more ambient comms washing through her liminal attention. She checked the self-drive’s location and looked over to the counter…
“Hi Sam, so you’re ordering for yourself now. Wow, you’ve grown. Sorry I can’t let you have that cookie, I remember that you’re allergic. That one? well I’m not sure that’s as good for you as your mum would like. Why don’t you try pointing again… well done, that looks great. Let’s ask your mum… Chris?”
She pushed the buggy away slightly. Just far enough so he couldn’t touch anything.