I love it when technology is created to benefit everyone - but in fact - appears to benefit the deaf community even more. The inconvenience of placing your order with the store clerk — for your latte or double cheeseburger — is minimized with Apple’s latest patent.
In a partnership between Apple and Starbucks, you’ll be able to wirelessly transmit your order. No more hassling with the clerk to make sure your order is correct. Or if you like to write on paper, no more asking for paper and pen. Or if you like to type your order in the Notes application of your portable device, no more squinting at the tiny font. Or sometimes, no more strange looks, or paralysis, if you’re shoving your device into their face.
When your order is placed by your wireless device, namely the iPhone, your order will be put ahead of those waiting in line. Whoo. Not only that, when your order is ready, your device beeps to tell you. No more standing around and not knowing if the Venti cup is yours.
Sometimes technology benefits almost everyone, but leaves a segment behind. Example: lack of captioning on iTunes (although I’m sure they’re working on it). But it forever delights me when new technology turns our greater inconveniences into equal footing with other store customers.
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Posted on December 28th, 2007 by tayler
December 28th, 2007 10:46 am
I like the idea!! however….a long line waiting to pay at the cashier, will coffee stay hot?
Let’s test how it works out for us. I am a fan of starbuck! 
December 28th, 2007 10:54 am
Whoa! That sure sounds nifty. I’ve had that problem with not knowing if that order of coffee is mine or not.
December 28th, 2007 12:19 pm
That’s brilliant.
Lets see if this can be done with sidekicks or blackberries.
Richard
December 28th, 2007 12:24 pm
Guess what?! I have Starbuck coffee with me right now! You must read my mind???? **heee-hee***
December 28th, 2007 12:25 pm
That sounds really awesome, even more reasons to get an iPhone! Been wanting to for awhile now.
December 28th, 2007 12:26 pm
I just ordered Mint Mocha from Starbucks.
December 28th, 2007 12:33 pm
Rini - waiting to get an iPhone too. If I may ask - what are your reasons?
Deb Ann - enjoy your Mint Mocha!
I’d like to amend my post above: I love it when technology hugely benefits a segment of the population it wasn’t specifically designed for.
December 28th, 2007 1:28 pm
Very cool. Thanks for sharing!
December 28th, 2007 2:44 pm
hedy, maybe you’ll be able to include payment with (from your Starbucks card account or VISA card?) your wireless order…bet so!
BTW Tayler, how do we like the new HDTVs? Is it true that the captions can be adjusted in placement, color, font, and size??? If you have a HDTV, tell us about it?
December 28th, 2007 4:50 pm
But what I hate - if I read the article correctly, it’s not a technology, but a patent on the idea. Apple trying to get lock-in on assistive technoloy ideas? That’s bad for everybody!
“In an application with the U.S. Patent Office published on Dec. 20, the Cupertino, Calif.-based computer and gadget company described a wireless system that would allow customers to place an order at a store using a wireless device such as a media player, a wireless personal digital assistant or a cellphone.”
December 28th, 2007 6:00 pm
Nevermind, Tayler…I found some info about captions of HDTV sets..thanks to your search feature. (We know you are busy.)
Well…I will do my research before I hit BestBuy with my universal remote (their display sets don’t have any remote controls attached to them…I will ask salesperson to confess where they hide them
), then download/read the manual PDFs before I buy! From my quick glance on the posts below seems a lot of problems getting captions to appear or look right on HDTV sets. Analog captions cannot be adjusted…only the digital captions…it seems.
HDTV posts of DeafRead blogs
January 7th, 2008 2:52 pm
Let’s get past the IPHONE and let it happen wirelessly from ANY bluetooth or other phone
MINT mocha at Starbucks is WORTH this wireless order!
February 17th, 2008 10:25 am
What it looks like:
http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/16/quickorder-app-would-keep-ipod-touch-owners-hooked-on-starbucks/