The iPad has been implemented in the some of the most diverse sectors of human activities. The Apple tablet now serves in schools, hospitals and government facilities and has recently added another field – airport restaurants.

Delta Air Lines just announced it will implement more than 250 iPads in three of its newly opened restaurants located in the Minneapolis-St.Paul International Airport’s Concourse G. Hungry travelers can enjoy the enhanced restaurant services at Concourse G’s MinniBar, Mimosa and Shoyu. The tablets will help customers receive their orders in 15 minutes or less. This is the second location after New York’s LaGuardia Airport that has been graced by the presence of such technology in the gourmet department.

"Delta is following through on our commitment to invest in our Minneapolis-St. Paul hub by improving the airport experience with these truly unique amenities. These enhancements on the ground coupled with our in-flight investments such as installing full flatbed seats in BusinessElite and Wi-Fi on more than 800 aircraft, make for a unique traveling experience on Delta that no other carrier can match,” explained Bill Lentsch, Delta's senior vice president – Minnesota Operations. "

The iPads are implemented in the airport via a partnership with OTG – a company that sells airport food and beverages. The tablets facilitate the ordering process and while waiting customers can log in via Twitter or Facebook to check in. The iPads also offer some entertainment for those stranded in airports. Diners at the above mentioned restaurants can also check their flight status, watch videos or play some games.

By Radu

Source: Delta deploying 4500 Apple iPads at US airport restaurants

I wouldn't use my login on any public device or wifi network. Those are good ways to expose yourself to possible account hijacking.

That is totally awesome.

Originally Posted by Kaykaykay

I wouldn't use my login on any public device or wifi network. Those are good ways to expose yourself to possible account hijacking.

Agree

It's nice to see companies like Delta reaching out to the public with real usable technology like this.

I was in a restaurant in Hong Kong that used iPads for ordering and it was brilliant. They were on every table and presented very nice pictures along with both overview and detailed descriptions of the dishes not practical on printed menus - right down to how the dish was cooked.

The order total was available in several different currencies.

The only thing missing was a way to pay online.

Ordering for a group of 8 was fast, error free and fun.

It even included a tracking feature so we could tell when the food was going to arrive!

Originally Posted by Kaykaykay

I wouldn't use my login on any public device or wifi network. Those are good ways to expose yourself to possible account hijacking.

I agree so wouldn't the solution be to come up with another Apple ID that you wouldn't use personally?

And 1 question how do you keep kids dirty hands from mucking up the pad or worse throw food at it lol.

Originally Posted by iJamesH

I agree so wouldn't the solution be to come up with another Apple ID that you wouldn't use personally?

And 1 question how do you keep kids dirty hands from mucking up the pad or worse throw food at it lol.

There's no reason you couldn't do generic Web surfing or use some apps on a public machine, including ones they create for travelers. I just wouldn't log on to any accounts -- social network or otherwise on a public device.

The fingerprint factor is a big turnoff for me. iPads show fingerprints like crazy under fluorescent lighting and the idea of a screenful of strangers smudgy fingerprints all over the screen grosses me out. But I admit I am OCD about that kind of thing, so I wouldn't use a public iPad.

The Minneapolis airport is a nice one, though, and it's no surprise that they'd offer such amenities. If I remember right, it's the airport with lots of rocking chairs all around for travelers to enjoy.

Originally Posted by Kaykaykay

I wouldn't use my login on any public device or wifi network. Those are good ways to expose yourself to possible account hijacking.

I agree with you but I am sure they have thought of that and they probably use private/secure wifi networks to host the ipads

Originally Posted by Unleashed

I agree with you but I am sure they have thought of that and they probably use private/secure wifi networks to host the ipads

That would make sense.

Originally Posted by Unleashed

I agree with you but I am sure they have thought of that and they probably use private/secure wifi networks to host the ipads

Up to each user, of course, but I don't use wifi connections unless I know what kind of security it's got and who else is on the network.