About the Project

This college project aims to revolutionize food court and canteen experiences using augmented reality. By enabling seat reservations, offering restaurant details compliant with social distancing, ensuring hygiene standards, and facilitating the exploration and ordering of new dishes via web browsers, the project redefines dining encounters in malls and corporate settings. Through innovative design and immersive technology, it strives to enhance convenience, safety, and culinary discovery.

Timeline: 4 weeks

My Role: Team-lead, Researcher, UI Design & Prototyping

Problem Statement

At the time of the ongoing pandemic and its aftermath, the dining landscape has undergone a significant shift in customer behaviour and expectations. Recent surveys reveal that a staggering 87% of citizens express concerns about visiting restaurants due to the fear of contracting the virus, while 61% are hesitant to spend on dining out altogether. The impact of the pandemic has elevated the importance of good hygiene practices and safety measures in the decision-making process of choosing a restaurant. This has created an opportunity to reevaluate and improve the user experience (UX) of restaurant-goers.

Research

User Interviews and Surveys:

Conduct in-depth interviews and surveys with potential users, both locals and newcomers to the city. Explore their dining habits, preferences, pain points, and safety concerns related to dining out post-pandemic. Gather insights on their willingness to adopt digital solutions, their perception of restaurant hygiene, and their desired features in a dining app.

This involved conducting over 50 online surveys and engaging in more than 15 in-person interviews. The purpose of this endeavour was to delve deeply into the issues at hand and to ascertain the challenges individuals face. By exploring factors such as the time spent at food courts, encountered problems, and perceptions of hygiene standards, I aimed to obtain a holistic perspective.

Research Insights

I administered a survey and conducted on-site observations at multiple restaurants to gain insights into the existing physical environments, user behaviors, and areas of dissatisfaction. During these observations, I closely examined how patrons interacted with menus, queued in lines, and communicated with the staff. The subsequent list outlines the commonly identified pain points.

What food market players saying?

Enhanced restaurant layouts to prioritize social distancing.
Conducted comprehensive training for staff to align with new safety norms.
Implemented innovative measures such as spaced seating arrangements and organized queues.
Regulated customer entry to manage capacity and uphold safety protocols.
Pioneered a seamless, contactless dining experience for patrons.
Introduced innovative business models with a strong emphasis on delivery and take-away services.

Ideation

To address these challenges and meet the evolving needs of users, we propose an innovative solution that focuses on a holistic and user-centered approach to the restaurant experience.

Trusted Exploration:

Implement a user-friendly mobile app that provides curated recommendations for restaurants and cafes based on user preferences, dietary requirements, and safety measures. Leverage user reviews and ratings to build trust and guide decision-making.

Comfort Zones:

Collaborate with restaurants to create well-designed and comfortable seating arrangements that adhere to social distancing norms. Offer users the option to pre-book specific tables to ensure a relaxing dining experience.

Seamless Ordering:

Introduce a digital menu system accessible via the app, allowing users to browse dishes, view images, and read detailed descriptions. Incorporate filter options for dietary restrictions, allergens, and pricing to simplify the ordering process.

Transparent Hygiene Information:

Integrate a prominent section within the app that showcases the restaurant's hygiene practices and safety measures. Highlight features such as contactless payment, sanitization routines, and staff health checks to alleviate concerns.

Virtual Queues:

Implement a virtual queue system that enables users to join a waitlist remotely and receive real-time notifications when their table is ready. This eliminates the need for physically waiting in long lines.

When i asked people

Are they looking for an aap to solve this?

Ans: NO!! We do not want one more app for a problem

99% of the individuals I interviewed emphatically rejected the notion. The prospect of having to download an app, which would occupy valuable mobile storage, garnered unanimous disapproval. What they were seeking was a swift and efficient resolution. It was at that point that the concept of Augmented Reality emerged within my thoughts.

Why Augmented Reality?

Augmented reality uses existing reality and physical objects to trigger computer-generated enhancements over the top of reality, in real time.

The best thing about AR is that it allows users to interact with the real world in a fun and unprecedented way.