Taylannas' Menus That Talk vocalize what's for dinner

Auditory menus might be an old trick, but it's likely to make Taylannas some serious coin if implemented in any number of eateries. The Florida-based startup has announced plans to dole out "slim electronic tablets about the size and shape of a DVD case" that sport touchscreen displays, speak numerous languages, and can even have its buttons imprinted with Braille to help the blind wade through the interface. As the title implies, the menus will vocalize what's on the docket, as customers can select different segments (drinks, dinner entrees, desserts) to be read aloud. The obvious benefactors are those who are visually impaired, but even customers who are hard of hearing were taken into account as the Menus That Talk devices also have a "detachable hand-held earphone" that reportedly syncs with most modern hearings aids. Still, we have to wonder if restaurants that rely on a quiet, low-key atmosphere won't disable the volume functions or demand a built-in whisper mode in order to maintain sanity during the evening rush.

[Thanks, Joe B.]

[drtekger @ May 24th 2007 3:46AM]

They call it a Royal with Cheese

[Aaron @ May 24th 2007 9:10AM]

Hahaha, it would be so awesome if you got one of these menus, switched it to French, and it told you that's what the burger was called...

[ashoksangra @ May 24th 2007 4:02AM]

Amazing adventure....just enough to stir the marrow in your bones: Two pilots flew around the world by way of north and south pole in a chopper in a single trip. That is 32200 Nautical miles across 26 countries. Check this at http://www.thenewsroom.com/details/334656/US?c_id=turk

[Ed @ May 24th 2007 10:37AM]

What a stupid idea....Most casual restaurants are so noisy, you can barely hear the wait staff asking you for your order! And I can just imagine how grimy and slimy the display will become as people drop bits of their appetiser all over it...And when you consider that paper menus are cheap and most restaurants can print them out in the back room, who would want to pay for this thing?
I love technology, but technology without a purpose is just stupid.
ed
web/gadget guru

[Docksider @ Jun 5th 2007 7:38AM]

Ed,
You have probably never had to take a blind person, elderly person or person with a language problem into a restaurant. I am very glad to see a manufacturer using technology to help people who are frequently ignored for a change.

[Ricardo @ May 24th 2007 8:33PM]

Actually, with a detachable earphone and a plastic menu card along with other built-in refinements, the volume of noise in most restaurants is not a factor and cleaning the menu between diners is a snap; most restaurant menus especially those from chains like Olive Garden, Red Lobster, etc. are quite expensive to produce being laminated and very pictorial. This makes adding changes to the menu prohibitive, not a factor for Menus That Talk. And when's the last time you could ask for a specific language menu or--perish the thought--get a Braille menu?

[Aaron @ May 24th 2007 8:35PM]

Beef. It's what's for dinner.