Could you reboot my table?


Miss, could you reboot my table?

Melissa Worden notes tabletop surfing is becoming a reality. Tully’s Coffee in San Francisco is installing tables with touch screen PCs to allow patrons free access to the hometown newspaper’s Web site, SFGate.com, as they nurse their java.

The tabletop PCs are made by TableTouch. The company calls it their “News Table.” And it has a tease on the Web site: “Please check back September, 25th after 3pm PST to see what’s in store for the future”.

Worden does note that it could put a damper on table talk if all you can get is one pre-defined Web site. And while the Tully’s pilot involves the San Francisco Chronicle, I can imagine some ingenious marketing types limiting the display to a high-flak restaurant Web site or “special” advertising site.. (sigh)

The TableTouch systems run Windows XP boxes  The tables are 30 inches tall with a 30-inch round tabletop and weigh 40 pounds. The viewing area of the screen is roughly 12 x 9 inches.

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