To: Margaret
Subject: Draft for Dr Food Tech
Looking at the “Present / Future “ for IT Trends impacting HotF&B 2008
Dr Food Tech, Fred J. DeMicco, of the University of Delaware had the opportunity to
be a guest of the Microsoft Home of the future in Seattle recently and also has gathered
IT projections from several leaders in technology and shared below
The Microsoft Home uses the latest in current and futuristic software and hardware
including RFID, Electronic wallboard, light projection devices and voice recognition.
Recently, Dr Food Tech became the first -hotel management faculty to tour the
Microsoft Home. Upon arriving at the home, when I pressed the doorbell, a digital picture
of the me is sent to the owner’s cell phone anywhere in the world. The cell phone owner
can then electronically open the front door or control lighting in the house or activate a
virtual dog barking to give impression that there is a big, intimidating dog inside. Upon
entering, the sensors under the carper notice the walking gait of the person (similar to
finger print, each human being has a unique way of walking) and set the lighting,
temperature, music, and artwork from Monet to Rockwell based on the settings of the
person. If the walking pattern is not recognized, the system understands that the person
is a visitor. Inside the home, there are many speakers and microphone that allows
communication with the digital home assistant. It feels like a virtual 24-hour butler. The
home owners can communicate with this virtual home assistant, usually named after a
human like: “Midge, please turn on Microsoft media center with the game of the week,
and preheat the oven….”
Using lumen imbedded wall coverings made by Siemens (and selling for
approximately $50 per square meter) all controls for the room a displayed for user
interaction. Imagine recovering the entire dining room of your hotel restaurant with this
wall material would allow for changing the color of the entire room and wallpaper design.
Now for applications to Hotel F & B- In the kitchen, by placing pieces of food
equipment (with RFID tags) on the counter, along with ingredients, for example, flour and
a food processor, the RFID is recognized and suggested recipes and text are light
beamed on the counter surface suggesting a pie crust or quick bread for example.
Individual RFID tags recognize ingredients in the refrigerator and inventory is taken, food
ordered, or recipes suggested with the existing refrigerator inventory. These are also
shown on the flat screen.
Now -imagine these emerging technologies in a hotel dining room to customize service
for guests.
Many of these Microsoft Home designs have relevant applications to hotels and
restaurants. The authors predict that these technologies featured in the “Microsoft Home
of the Future” will not only make it to the home but also guestrooms and our Hotel F &
Boperations. For example, the beamer to the kitchen counter could be a great way of
training, especially in the current state of hotels and restaurants with high employee
turnover. This way, the virtual kitchen assistant can be used as a training tool. With the
advance of RFID chips, the inventory of beverages and other packaged items can be
real-time, allowing the hotel executives to control costs and manage inventory
effectively.
By exploring the best of future home designs and innovations, the hospitality
industry can gain insight for future present/future innovations.
Other Hot Tech trends:
3-D printers turn three-dimensional computer images into three-dimensional objects. For
the past 20 years, the printers have been used primarily by auto makers, aerospace
companies, and other design-intensive businesses to produce prototypes of their
products. But in the near future, 3-D printing will move closer to hospitality FigurePrints,
a startup, is utilizing 3-D printing technology to create models of fantasy characters. The
3-D technology combines computer software and specialized "printers," which are
copier-size machines that sculpt objects using a tool akin to a set of high-tech glue guns.
Following a 3-D design on a computer screen, the gun nozzles squirt layers of material
that harden into a sculpture of a fantasy character or other object.. The models, which
will be priced at under $100, will likely be sold to hikers, resorts and real estate firms that
are interested in displaying the topographic contours of ski slopes, golf courses, and
other landscapes. But could also be used display show menu items, layout and design
of a wedding ‘s catered space, etc.
Trends from IBM’s Jerry Leeman;
Government regulations expanding: The trans fats, sugar, nutrition etc (and the
increased need for technology to display this real time information to customers)
Green technology and, the cost of fuel both electric and gas have increased so much in
the last 18 months and it is not stopping. This will continue to hit the bottom line and will
become more a part of the focus. If that was not enough to get them focused on being
Green the increased costs have also turned the public focus to who is being a good
corporate citizen and this will also cause to increase the focus on being "Green"
especially in the chains. Hotel FaB will be looking to technology energy solutions.
Increased marketing to our hotel and restaurant guests where they communicate, e.g
You Tube, (of special F and B events/wine dinners, celebrity chef events) and pod casts.
And from Jeffrey Osborne of Global IT giant- Wipro of India;
Consumers are getting used to better experiences from other businesses they frequent
and are measuring others by those standards. So, if retailers like Best Buy are building
connections with their clients through a multi-channel approach, then the consumer is
beginning to ask why that same level of quality of interaction cannot be ubiquitous. Lets
talk about restaurants for example that has a huge gift card program, but what are they
doing with the data? So many of these companies miss the big payoff by not going the
extra 10%; imagine if all of the data was collected at the store and customer levels.
Such a database could empower a new relationship with clients. Imagine the cross
marketing potential just within their own brands, not to mention partnering opportunities
available for hotel food and beverage outlets.
To all- have an IT enhanced- New Year. And look for the Technology in TuscanyEmeging IT Summit coming fall 2008.
Cheers, Dr Food Tech- Fred DeMicco
Professor- the University of Delaware