Everyone who has a facebook has at one time been witness to the 'gifts' that can be exchanged online. These virtual gifts are more a form of boredom relief than they are an actual gift. I'm sure I'm not the only one who would much rather have a real gift. A service called Bartab thinks so too.
Bartab is part of a larger company (Webtab) that is trying to combine our growing online social lives with our real ones. (in the form of a profitable business of course) Bartab allows a person to choose a bar on their mobile device and purchase a drink for a friend online who also has the service. The receiver simply shows the bartender the receipt screen and the drink is theirs to enjoy. So far it only works in San Francisco, LA, and parts of New York, but is supposed to be supported in 17 other cities in the near future.
Bartab doesn't charge bars for its service and depending on its success will likely be available in many more bars as word spreads. Users get cheap drinks and connections with friends, and bars get new customers at a low cost. It seems that the idea provides a good situation for everyone.
I personally think this is a cool idea. It is a trend that I can definitely see becoming more developed in the future. With how powerful our mobile devices are becoming its no doubt that they are going to be more and more applications like this. Online social networks originally offered a way for people to stay in touch online but ways are being made to take the online connection the to real world. As technology develops it will be interesting to see far this mobile connection will take us. Just as picture phones became standard, so will mobile internet. Soon we won't be able to buy a phone without online capabilities. This constant online connection will create a new real world connection. The possibilities seem endless and if we can keep from destroying ourselves, the future looks like it will be full of cool innovations such as this.
http://bartab.webtab.com/
Kapp, Trevor. "Users of New Facebook, IPhone Application 'Bartab' Can Buy Drinks at Bars via Social Networks." New York News, Traffic, Sports, Weather, Photos, Entertainment, and Gossip - NY Daily News. 11 July 2010. Web. 30 Sept. 2010. .
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Metz, Rachel. "Forget Virtual Gifts; Bartab Says Send a Margarita."Boston.com. 29 Sept. 2010. Web. 30 Sept. 2010.
It does seem like a cool idea, the gap between reality and virtual reality seems to get smaller and smaller every year. Which is great in a lot of ways but terrifying in many others. It seems like before long people will be able to live a full life without ever having to leave their couch.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a really cool idea. However, it seems like it might be easily exploitable. Couldn't people make fake receipts?
ReplyDeleteIs this technology really just perpetuating the population to use social networking sites effecting them negatively? Social Networking Sites can be VERY useful in sustaining relationships with people, creating networks, getting your ideas out there for the public, allowing for the sharing of ideas, etc. BUT in todays world, teens are using these social networking sites in a way that effects them negatively. More time than is natural and healthy, the teens of todays world have their eyes glued to a screen. These relationships we carry out with people are not healthy. Too often are we talking with people online rather than face to face. Is this "app" perpetuating this idea, by someone buying someone a drink online rather than meeting them somewhere and having a face to face conversation? I think so.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I do like this idea, I feel like it would only make sense if you knew someone (either far away or close by) who was as already at the bar, and then you could send them the tab. Also, I understand if the person is across the country, but I feel as if one is better off actually going to the bar with their friend instead of trying to bond through iphone apps
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