Technologically impaired

[snyper316]

Has anyone been catching these advertisements or headers about McD's Putting in Kiosk? I don't know about you all, but to me this another Job Killing idea. Not to mention the fact to think of walking into Mcd's instead of being annoyed by would you like McCafe or a hot apple pie with that, I will be walking in to press a screen and I guess be warped into the times of the Jetson's. Is the food gonna come out of the walls? My first job I watched go overseas was there the day they closed up for good. Everyone complains about all the unemployment rates, They don't even count the people who can't get Un-Employment or have ran out. When I first started working people would joke about some day robots will be doing our jobs. I seen that come to light at my 3rd job at esselte I used to run the pallet jack well sorta it ran it self I just had to press C4 to D1 or whatever. Craziest thing then... Top that I have jokingly told my kids I was gonna drop them off where I used to camp with nothing but a Fishing Pool some milk jugs and a tent. They all whiny about there phones, computers, Video games, and internet. They freak if you shut the cable off it's like you just killed someone or committed some type of a crime. I tell them I litterally feel as old as some of you are. If not a bit older at times. I have done my best to limit there time I actually had them down to 2 times a week for anything electronic. Then the School sends us a letter in mid-June telling us about these Chrome books for My 13 yr old son that the 7th and 8th grade classes will be getting one. So I am thinking ok what now. Well he get his Chrome Book and he gets to take it home with him every night. So I am think well he ain't gonna have internet access. So we are at the meeting about these new wonderful devices and informed us the kids would need access to the internet.:bang head::bang head::bang head: For Homework Purposes and to be able to access there site. So I figure well at least I got Parental controls... Nope I don't because with the Parental Controls enabled his Chrome Book will not connect. Needless to say He ask me about every other day about his Chromebook which I literally know nothing about. My logic tells me the thing shouldn't even boot up, It has NO DRIVES. Then there is my two younger kids which they each have one of me and my gf's old phones. I allow them to play them 1 hr 30 min a night, I just don't see how any of these kids are really learning anything, the schools logic is to next year have more Chromebooks for the 5th and 6th graders to each have one. I just see people getting less and less personal about things. Most people prefer to text then to talk on the phone, They assume to just go thru the self checkouts, and now these Kiosk to order food at McDs. This world is just getting crazy anymore.

[DblTrbl]

McDonald's as well as several other places are adding the kiosks to avoid paying an increased minimum wage. Just like Lowe's and Home Depot have added self checkout stations. Now they only pay 1 person to run 6 checkouts. That cuts their pay and benefit costs thus increasing their profits.

 

Very sad that everything is about greed nowadays... What we need is better customer service!

[uncledj]

It's inevitable. As technology improves, more and more will be done by machines.

Just imagine: Once the technology used for self driving cars gets the bugs worked out, and is proven safe...what happens to truck drivers...bus drivers....taxi drivers and the like....???

What are the masses going to do when machines do most / all of the work...???

It's difficult / impossible to imagine where this is all going.

[baylensman]

Its the fear of a national minimum wage that is pushing this. when I was a bit younger McDonalds and others were not careers"!!! it was a part time job for school kids or mom's reentering the work force and the like.I could go on a POLITICAL RANT here about the great society and the evils of welfare and such but (puppy dogs and rainbows) I will not.

[bongobobny]

Some day the machines will take over and revolt...

[Max]

We've been watching, over coffees, a local McD with 2 test pilot kiosks for a few months now, what a riot ! At least until the McD world is trained, they're quite counter productive and actually requires extra staff to help people figure out how to place orders. Initially, this kiosk (should be renamed kaosk) was worth a ringside seat just to watch the pandemonium. More recent, it's gotten to the point were the kiosks are basically ignored and business as usual. Now the cashiers print out 'wait in line' numbers on the bottom of the receipt which are displayed from a big screen when orders are ready. That wasn't a bad idea.

[BigLenny]

It's kind of a catch 22, I guess. I remember when an automobile was seriously needing a rebuild at 75K miles. Now, they don't even ask for a spark plug change until 100K. Technology has done that. These robots that have been implemented into the manufacturing process have allowed for products to be made with such precision and consistency, it has drastically improved our lifestyles in many ways. I know it has cost actual humans their jobs, but the good side is; it has increased the quality in the everyday products we use. And, yes, it has helped the profits of the companies that use them.

 

I'm 54yrs old. Not considered old yet by a lot of peoples standards, but certainly not young anymore either. But, it seems to me that I am at an age that is smack dab in the middle of accepting or denying the technologies of today. I know a lot of folks in their 50's that have a bah humbug attitude toward computers, smart phones, and technology in general, but, I also know a lot folks in their 50's that are truly amazed by what technology has brought to the forefront of todays everyday lifestyle, and they embrace it. It's probably half and half, and then it tails off drastically after the mid 50's.

 

I encourage everybody to embrace technology and have an attitude of true amazement of what is being invented today. Yes, some of it is down right annoying, and stupid to many of us, but it aint going away. Thats why schools are adapting and starting to push the young people to learn in new technological ways.

 

But that just me yapping.

[Mike G in SC]

I went to Walmart yesterday. I normally enjoy this because

A) I don't go there for groceries. I stay on the side of the store that has the manly stuff, electronics, car and hardware and, okay drugs.

B) I normally check out at the outdoor shop, simple, normally small lines for my one or two items.

 

Yesterday I went to the grocery side for 6 or 7 items. Wow, every isle is a traffic jam of folks who park two wide to read soup labels. I see dead people!

Then you find yourself as one of them. I had to dig deep on a bottom isle for a second can of bean with bacon and come up to see 4 shoppers waiting for me to move.

 

Then, seeing long lines at that side of the store, decided to use the self checkout.

Well after waiting on one, it was the R word, yes the machine is a retard (no offence ADA).

Of the 7 items, four times I had to get the attendant over to look at my scanner then go back to her desk and override it.

I spent 40+ years in green screen IT, these machines should not treat me like this.

 

I got home and told the wife, using all the bad words. She laughed and said, your daughter comes back the same way.

 

So, Walmart for manly stuff (and drugs), and Food Lion for groceries.

 

Sorry, got off subject but my final straw was the SELF (ABUSING) CHECKOUT.

[BigLenny]

We've been watching, over coffees, a local McD with 2 test pilot kiosks for a few months now, what a riot ! At least until the McD world is trained, they're quite counter productive and actually requires extra staff to help people figure out how to place orders. Initially, this kiosk (should be renamed kaosk) was worth a ringside seat just to watch the pandemonium. More recent, it's gotten to the point were the kiosks are basically ignored and business as usual. Now the cashiers print out 'wait in line' numbers on the bottom of the receipt which are displayed from a big screen when orders are ready. That wasn't a bad idea.

 

And, this brings up another point. Not all technology will survive. If it really isn't easier to use, and time productive for the customer, it won't stay. I've used one of these "Kaosks", lol, and I agree with what has been said. They're hard to understand, and cumbersome to use. It's not at all faster and more convenient for the customer. I predict it will slowly go away. Or, it'll be a relic that will be in Mcdonalds restaurants, but will be bypassed by going to the counter.

 

On the other hand, self checkouts at Lowes, HD, Walmarts and such, have been wildly successful because it sometimes is an asset for the customer. I regularly use them if I only have a few items to check out, and it drastically speeds up the process for me. That's the way these new technologies are. If its good, it'll stay, if it's bad, it'll go by the wayside. But, in the mean time, it sure can be painful for us to learn while we're trying to figure out if it's good/bad.

[snyper316]

I went to Walmart yesterday. I normally enjoy this because

A) I don't go there for groceries. I stay on the side of the store that has the manly stuff, electronics, car and hardware and, okay drugs.

B) I normally check out at the outdoor shop, simple, normally small lines for my one or two items.

 

Yesterday I went to the grocery side for 6 or 7 items. Wow, every isle is a traffic jam of folks who park two wide to read soup labels. I see dead people!

Then you find yourself as one of them. I had to dig deep on a bottom isle for a second can of bean with bacon and come up to see 4 shoppers waiting for me to move.

 

Then, seeing long lines at that side of the store, decided to use the self checkout.

Well after waiting on one, it was the R word, yes the machine is a retard (no offence ADA).

Of the 7 items, four times I had to get the attendant over to look at my scanner then go back to her desk and override it.

I spent 40+ years in green screen IT, these machines should not treat me like this.

 

I got home and told the wife, using all the bad words. She laughed and said, your daughter comes back the same way.

 

So, Walmart for manly stuff (and drugs), and Food Lion for groceries.

 

Sorry, got off subject but my final straw was the SELF (ABUSING) CHECKOUT.

 

Ok I use these at times, But you would think the machine would be smart enuff to know when you can not bag an item....

Or when you need to double bag something. These are my two pet peaves with them DO YOU WANT TO BAG THIS 25lb Bag of DOG food. Unexpected Item in baggin area when you have Double bagged your 2 liters of soda... I don't know if I have ever said this before but my oldest son tried for 3-4 yrs to get me to buy a smart phone. Then one day my trusty phone quit. I had to get another and didn't have much money at the time and the Go Phone I have had for years. So we go in to buy me a new phone I was looking at this tiny flip phone but it was a samsung flip. So up above it sets the ZTE Compel with Kit Kat, I end up buying this phone and know nothing about them I pretty much had to self teach myself with a little bit of his help, He went thru it in 10 minutes, He over there going don't need this; this needs to be disabled. Once I figured them out I kind of like them. But I do miss the days where you simply picked up your brick, Punched in your number you were dialing and vwala you made your call. I will say all in all my phone has more then served its purpose, It's my alarm clock, Personal assistant reminding me to take my meds, check blood sugar, and remind me of upcoming appointments. Very handy personal device.

 

Now to whoever was talking about self driving trucks well... here is an article on that I have even seen video of how these trucks would operate. I don't know about you all but after Maximum Overdrive, It kind of gives me nightmares to think about this one.

 

http://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2016/10/13/497834498/for-the-long-haul-self-driving-trucks-may-pave-the-way-before-cars

[BlueSky]

My wife likes to eat at Panera Bread. They have kiosks but you don't have to use them and most people don't. She used it one time and it took a loooonnng time to figure out the order. And you still have to go to the counter to complete the order. Doesn't seem to work out well there.

[SilvrT]

We've been watching, over coffees, a local McD with 2 test pilot kiosks for a few months now, what a riot ! At least until the McD world is trained, they're quite counter productive and actually requires extra staff to help people figure out how to place orders. Initially, this kiosk (should be renamed kaosk) was worth a ringside seat just to watch the pandemonium. More recent, it's gotten to the point were the kiosks are basically ignored and business as usual. Now the cashiers print out 'wait in line' numbers on the bottom of the receipt which are displayed from a big screen when orders are ready. That wasn't a bad idea.

 

They installed those kiosks at the McD's down the street from where I work about a month ago. They have 4 of them. It took maybe 2 weeks of having a couple regular staff members assisting customers in the use of them. Now, even though there still is a bit of a lineup at the till, many folks are using the kiosk including me. It's pretty simple to use and it has totally stream lined the mele` and confusion that used to be there. Do I see less staff? NO. What I do see is much faster service and considerably more orderly.

[SilvrT]

McDonald's as well as several other places are adding the kiosks to avoid paying an increased minimum wage. Just like Lowe's and Home Depot have added self checkout stations. Now they only pay 1 person to run 6 checkouts. That cuts their pay and benefit costs thus increasing their profits.

 

Very sad that everything is about greed nowadays... What we need is better customer service!

 

I honestly don't believe it has anything to do with greed. Businesses have to make a certain profit margin to be worthwhile and that is getting more and more difficult to do. Cutting costs and streamlining an operation while staying competitive is the only option. What is the one thing that is easiest to reduce and costs a business the most? STAFF.

 

:stirthepot:

[Mike G in SC]

Ok I use these at times, But you would think the machine would be smart enuff to know when you can not bag an item....

Or when you need to double bag something. These are my two pet peaves with them DO YOU WANT TO BAG THIS 25lb Bag of DOG food. Unexpected Item in baggin area when you have Double bagged your 2 liters of soda... I don't know if I have ever said this before but my oldest son tried for 3-4 yrs to get me to buy a smart phone. Then one day my trusty phone quit. I had to get another and didn't have much money at the time and the Go Phone I have had for years. So we go in to buy me a new phone I was looking at this tiny flip phone but it was a samsung flip. So up above it sets the ZTE Compel with Kit Kat, I end up buying this phone and know nothing about them I pretty much had to self teach myself with a little bit of his help, He went thru it in 10 minutes, He over there going don't need this; this needs to be disabled. Once I figured them out I kind of like them. But I do miss the days where you simply picked up your brick, Punched in your number you were dialing and vwala you made your call. I will say all in all my phone has more then served its purpose, It's my alarm clock, Personal assistant reminding me to take my meds, check blood sugar, and remind me of upcoming appointments. Very handy personal device.

 

Now to whoever was talking about self driving trucks well... here is an article on that I have even seen video of how these trucks would operate. I don't know about you all but after Maximum Overdrive, It kind of gives me nightmares to think about this one.

 

http://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2016/10/13/497834498/for-the-long-haul-self-driving-trucks-may-pave-the-way-before-cars

 

Still holding on to this one.

[SilvrT]

Still holding on to this one.

 

I think I've still got one that's older LOL ... of course, I don't use it ... not even sure if a person could still use it.

[Mike G in SC]

I think I've still got one that's older LOL ... of course, I don't use it ... not even sure if a person could still use it.

Wife said she still has her bag phone.

[MiCarl]

In 1985 I earned a degree in Computer Science from the University of Cincinnati. My dozen or so classmates and I were the first to receive that degree from U.C. If we'd written user interfaces like I see on many kiosks and consumer devices we wouldn't have got our diplomas.

 

McDonalds became huge by providing food people liked, at a reasonable price and fast. Now the food tastes like crap, takes as long as a sit down restaurant and costs almost as much. I figure I might as well sit down and have a better meal someone brings to the table. The Kiosks won't fix that.

 

The day is fast approaching when machines will take most of the remaining jobs. Probably the last ones to go will be the ones designing and maintaining the machines. It'll be interesting to see what the world looks like then.

[CaseyJ955]

I stopped going to McD's a long long time ago just because the price went up and the quality remained substandard, even by fast food standards. That and I cant recall last time I went there and got what I ordered instead of some distant variant haha. The kiosk is necessary for them to survive in the face of employees demanding $15/hr. I know these employees were warned they would price themselves out of a job, and now it's happening, this was very predictable but logic and reason are no competition for youthful entitlement. I think there are perks to a kiosk, although I have not experienced one yet we know they will evolve and become more intuitive. I avoid self check out stations and try to go to a cashier because I want these entry level jobs to stay open for students folks who need them. Once they ask for $15/hr I'll be at the self check out as well.

 

Autonomous cars, all electric cars, solar, kiosks, AI, robotics and all fashions of automation, it's all coming. I'm pretty sure that anyone that starts wanting more money then they are worth to do a job can rest assured that some priority will be given to technology being used to replace them altogether. I'm not saying this is a bad thing at all. There was no min wage push here so kiosks are not common at all, I look forward to trying it out and seeing how they streamline the whole experience. I dont think it will be long before you can order and pay with a smart phone app or just slide your card into a slot and push a few buttons and get your food, and with much higher probability of getting your order correct.

 

I was in Devils Lake ND a couple months ago, at a Chilli's and like any Chilli's they had waitresses and servers but they had something new, they had a tablet at each table and when it was time to pay we would slide the card and pay the bill right there while seated. Their system was pretty far from intuitive and it was enough of a hassle that I will probably not eat there again. More work is needed, there are still some growing pains and I suspect some places are trying to integrate automation where it's really not necessary.

[snyper316]

I stopped going to McD's a long long time ago just because the price went up and the quality remained substandard, even by fast food standards. That and I cant recall last time I went there and got what I ordered instead of some distant variant haha. The kiosk is necessary for them to survive in the face of employees demanding $15/hr. I know these employees were warned they would price themselves out of a job, and now it's happening, this was very predictable but logic and reason are no competition for youthful entitlement. I think there are perks to a kiosk, although I have not experienced one yet we know they will evolve and become more intuitive. I avoid self check out stations and try to go to a cashier because I want these entry level jobs to stay open for students folks who need them. Once they ask for $15/hr I'll be at the self check out as well.

 

Autonomous cars, all electric cars, solar, kiosks, AI, robotics and all fashions of automation, it's all coming. I'm pretty sure that anyone that starts wanting more money then they are worth to do a job can rest assured that some priority will be given to technology being used to replace them altogether. I'm not saying this is a bad thing at all. There was no min wage push here so kiosks are not common at all, I look forward to trying it out and seeing how they streamline the whole experience. I dont think it will be long before you can order and pay with a smart phone app or just slide your card into a slot and push a few buttons and get your food, and with much higher probability of getting your order correct.

 

I was in Devils Lake ND a couple months ago, at a Chilli's and like any Chilli's they had waitresses and servers but they had something new, they had a tablet at each table and when it was time to pay we would slide the card and pay the bill right there while seated. Their system was pretty far from intuitive and it was enough of a hassle that I will probably not eat there again. More work is needed, there are still some growing pains and I suspect some places are trying to integrate automation where it's really not necessary.

 

Pizza Hut App. Pretty cool plus they give you discount for ordering online. I know there is one other restaurant that you can do the same. I am almost wanting to say its McD's There was some things I loved at McD's There MCRIB's I actually got one the other night that was well back to the way they used to make them, The others are the BigMac, The Arch Burger which they no longer have. Then they have done something to all of it, like there chicken nuggets no longer taste like they used to they taste more like cardboard to me. I still eat there McChicken but, they have taken away there original Mayo and replaced it with another Brand, It also used to come with tomatoes. They also used to allow for extra items like if you wanted lettuce you got it or if you wanted extra onion you got it, and the sauces you would get it. Now you get charged for anything extra. It was real hot this summer I was out doing a job, went to mcds to get a small glass of Ice water and I guess I can't call it a shock but paid 65 cents for it. This used to be free regardless. A friend of mine works at Hardee's called me wanting to know if he could borrow $6.00 I am thinking what for, he tells me so he can get himself something to eat. I'm like thought if you worked more then 4 hours the meal was free. He tells me I don't know where you been but food has never been free!!!! I am like well when I worked at Hardee's I got it free same with all the other fast food places, He goes the only people that eat free is Cops and they just get a Free Coffee... I guess I have been trying to deny the fact it is all about the money these days. They took away personal days and sick days at my gfs work a few years ago. She has also said something about some stupid robo welder that most the welders can out run and that is because it has so many problems....

[SilvrT]

Good Grief !!!

 

I hear it verbally every day but to see it in print today is a first !!!

 

" like "

 

as in ... I'm like .... blah blah

[CaseyJ955]

Not to be inappropriate but I heard a story on the New Normal about some of the absolutely insane tech going into, well, synthetic adult companions. I'm not in that demographic but I guess the technology and automation is creeping into every aspect of life. I'm still most excited for self driving cars, think of how much safer we'll be on two wheels.

[videoarizona]

I honestly don't believe it has anything to do with greed. Businesses have to make a certain profit margin to be worthwhile and that is getting more and more difficult to do. Cutting costs and streamlining an operation while staying competitive is the only option. What is the one thing that is easiest to reduce and costs a business the most? STAFF.

 

:stirthepot:

 

Actually, the best place to cut costs for businesses is not staff, rather cut the regulations and government crap they have to deal with every day. This is THE largest detriment to productivity from small to medium size businesses today. The typical cost for having an employee is 40% of their base pay...this is just to satisfy the regs and such that Congress has imposed on the businesses. That is what it costs for HR to manage the payroll, benefits and rules and regs. Why do you think labor is being sent overseas? Not because of labor, but because of the costs associated with having an employee.

Sad to say, my wife, as an HR executive/director of small to medium size businesses spent over half her time just making sure the companies were compliant to all the crap they had to deal with. She is so happy she's retired!!!

[SilvrT]

Actually, the best place to cut costs for businesses is not staff, rather cut the regulations and government crap they have to deal with every day. This is THE largest detriment to productivity from small to medium size businesses today. The typical cost for having an employee is 40% of their base pay...this is just to satisfy the regs and such that Congress has imposed on the businesses. That is what it costs for HR to manage the payroll, benefits and rules and regs. Why do you think labor is being sent overseas? Not because of labor, but because of the costs associated with having an employee.

Sad to say, my wife, as an HR executive/director of small to medium size businesses spent over half her time just making sure the companies were compliant to all the crap they had to deal with. She is so happy she's retired!!!

 

You are correct ... if only that was a possibility. Since it isn't, then you cut the part that all that "crap" is associated with ... the employee.

[Midrsv]

Better than a kiosk, Chick-fil-A has a smart phone app that let's you place your order via your phone, walk in and pick it up. Bypassing the line. Saves time waiting in line too.

[MiCarl]

Not to be inappropriate but I heard a story on the New Normal about some of the absolutely insane tech going into, well, synthetic adult companions. I'm not in that demographic but I guess the technology and automation is creeping into every aspect of life. I'm still most excited for self driving cars, think of how much safer we'll be on two wheels.

 

Just like the VCR and internet - adult activities will drive the robotics field too.