Filed under: Cool tools, iPhone
Not a "people person?" Get an iPhone
Anthropophobic* iPhone users have something to look forward to. You may remember that Apple filed a patent for an iPhone-based payment system back in December. The system would not only allow payment without interaction, but could be used as a full ordering and fulfillment notification system. But even before the patent was publicized, Phil Lu was already figuring out how to minimize any human contact with a system concept called QuickOrder.
Phil's proposal is designed around Starbucks purchasing, and it would allow ordering and payment from your iPhone. QuickOrder uses Semacode barcode technology to link iPhones to coffee orders; as he told Gizmodo, this would allow payment using your iTunes account and bypass the credit card transaction entirely. You could order from afar, pay with a finger swipe and -- if it's anything like the Starbucks I'm used to -- pick up your coffee without saying a word. For those not inclined towards being near other living beings, you're in and out with your coffee fix and nary a "hello." I feel palpable levels of anticipation emanating from hermitic sects of iPhone users everywhere.
And yes, despite a certain amount of sarcasm, I do think it's a very cool idea, even though I actually enjoy my daily chats with baristas. And I do love the mockups Phil created.
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
matthew said 2:20PM on 2-14-2008
Other than the patent, which was from a while ago, plus we all know Apple files lots of patents it never implements, is there some new indication that Apple or Starbucks is planning on anything along these lines? Is it just a slow news day so we're highlighting old things of interest?
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Joseph Crawford said 2:34PM on 2-14-2008
This is too funny. Looks like someone is really lazy or very unsociable ;) makes me wish i had an iPhone though ;)
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Miranda Kali said 2:35PM on 2-14-2008
Anything that helps me get a "plain, black coffee" faster. It always irks me when I want a simple cup of joe, and I get stuck behind five people who want a "soy-mocha-frappa-latte, with organic cinnamon sprinkles and oh is there any way I can get that in two separate cups, one being three ounces and the other being five point seventy-nine ounces and can you have a Moldavian priest bless one and a Shinto monk bless the other while spinning widdershins on a unicycle".
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Joe said 2:43PM on 2-14-2008
Thanks, Denis Leary. Now please tell us about your VCR, and the difficulty you have setting its clock. Perhaps you have anecdotes about the quality of airline food?
Miranda Kali said 3:20PM on 2-14-2008
No silly, the Dennis Leary schtick is his rant all about how he couldn't FIND any plain, black coffee. (...don't recall any rant about VCR's or airline food....).
I can find the plain, black coffee just fine. It's just exasperating to wait behind a bunch of people who want an item (that may not even be on the menu) exactingly tailored to their own specifications, with little regard to the people waiting behind them. (of course, this is common in all areas of fast food)
Fred said 3:22PM on 2-14-2008
I think he's thinking of a 1959 Cadillac El Dorado, Hot Pink, with an all leather cow interior, whale skin hubcaps, and big brown baby seal eyes for headlights?
PSM said 4:37PM on 2-14-2008
I always say, if you want a plain black coffee you can get it at the deli for $1. I go to Starbucks BECAUSE I want to pay $5 for an iced grande sugar-free vanilla soy latte. IMO it's the people buying plain coffee who are taking up space in line.
Miranda Kali said 4:51PM on 2-14-2008
My bad....Crazy me, what was I thinking!? Get plain coffee in a coffee shop...madness! Surely I should go to the sandwich shop or gas station for my coffee...Hmmm. I hope they have a selection of nice dark roasts...
Derek McNelly said 2:49PM on 2-17-2008
An interesting concept.
However, I've never seen an iPod Touch get 5 bars from AT&T.
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Michael Dravnieks said 2:48PM on 2-14-2008
That looks awesome.
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Fred said 2:58PM on 2-14-2008
Again with the Touch instead of the iPhone!
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Martin said 3:24PM on 2-14-2008
I'm not sure who is more pretentious, Apple users or Starbucks users (and they are users, trust me).
Interesting concept, however the last thing this country needs is more separatism.
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Fred said 3:33PM on 2-14-2008
Blah, blah, Apple, blah, blah, pretentious, blah, blah, Linux, blah, blah, blah.
matthew said 3:47PM on 2-14-2008
"this would allow payment using your iTunes account and bypass the credit card transaction entirely"
SWEET! And all this time I thought I actually had to pay my credit card company for all the stuff I bought on iTunes.
T, you guys are incredible (and late)!
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Will said 3:45PM on 2-14-2008
Before everyone starts giving Apple credit for this, folks in Finland have been doing something similar for years.
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m00kie said 4:00PM on 2-14-2008
Now, if a strip club implemented this so I can pay that way for my lap dance I'd be all set!
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Richard said 4:26PM on 2-14-2008
Why do people keep slapping iPhone GUI screenshots/mockups on an iPod touch?
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bibi-pov said 4:43PM on 2-14-2008
because this would work equally well on a touch, as it would obviously use starbucks' wifi, not edge.
Richard said 4:50PM on 2-14-2008
I'm sure that's the case, but that doesn't excuse blatantly false and misleading imagery.
matthew said 5:54PM on 2-14-2008
Richard, check out Lu's QuickOrder page. That's exactly how this month-old story appeared on his site, and on the blogs that carried it early Jan '08.
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