U-Wink over Spring Break

My spring break took me to the coast of California where I had the opportunity to go visit U-Wink. I had hoped to check out a dark dining spot as well but since I stayed in Los Angeles for one night only it gave me time for U-Wink alone. Luckily I did manage to speak with the manager of the restaurant and get some information on the U-Wink concept.

Notes
*Women 21-35
*Design: Gaming Section (children, younger hip adults - higher stools/low tables for active games), food section (above 30 crowd - lower tables, more intimacy), bar sections (nightlife, young people, social, games, order drinks).
*Swipe card at tables, soon at bar
*Games have notably worked as conversation starters
*Designed to induce talk, break the ice
*No probs with these age groups using the technology
*Easy touchscreen interface design
*Help around the corner
*No waiters except to bring food
*Max time for ppl to spend was designed but surprisingly ppl get hooked
*Surprised by amount of children using it as meant for adults
*Feminine design
*Easy games that attract females, non threatening, puzzles, horoscopes, the scoop etc.
*No interaction between the tables as of yet but in the works
*Future plans do include more social interaction but more ubiquitously -> monitors have lights on them - idea to start wine tastings where monitors tell who is taking part by the lights on them - idea for bar area - thus induces more conversations maybe -> can be used in group functions or then at special nights
*Considerations of etiquette here: is this the appropriate environment to do it? How to enforce it so that men still play the role of the picker upper? Control over who you want to talk to?
*Rules and regs - more on etiquette? --> they have a clear help page and page that answers most questions about the restaurant experience, monitor experience, and attends to basic restaurant goer needs --> a set of insturctioins has therefore been implemented into the design of the technology) --> there is also however, someone that has to explain to new patrons who acts as a hostess at the front of the restaurant to explain all functions of the monitors should new visitors need information...

Observations
*Games struck conversation
*Surprisingly limited space between tables
*Very loud environment
*Gimmicky, slightly feminine design, slick in part
*Not sure if it was initially intended towards females or just grew that way
*People did not seem to mind me on the phone
*People did not seem to mind me taking photos of them either
*Things were being fixed right in front of patrons noses and they did not mind
*Games, prize games, premium games, love and horoscopes, scenic tours of far off places, quizzes, celebrity facts, food service and drinks service, easy help, easy refill or nbotify waitor system, very easy to use overall.
*Distinct design choises over privacy (monitor spacing around a foot from each other or designed to face so other groups cant look, but close in enough for conversations)
*Awareness of the different age groups that attend put into the design aspects

Here's Some Pix: