Microsoft Corp. and Harrah's Entertainment have introduced a high-tech interactive bar table that lets patrons order drinks, watch YouTube videos, play touch-screen games and even flirt with each other.
The tables offer Harrah's a new way to track its customers' habits and behavioirs, adding to its sophisticated customer rewards programmr that tracks users' gambling habits.
"Of all the goodies up our sleeves lately, this is one of the most dramatic," Tim Stanley, chief information officer of Harrah's, told The Associated Press. "The range of opportunities are fairly limitless."
The six rectangular tables with built-in 30-inch (76-centimetre) flat screens using Microsoft Surface technology were installed in a lounge at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, with custom applications built for Harrah's.
A spokeswoman for Microsoft said the units sold for a base price of $US10,000 ($NZ13,400).
A programme called Mixologists lets patrons play bartender by creating and ordering concoctions of whatever cocktails and mixers they click on. The system is able to remember users' drink orders and, one day, may be able to offer customers the same drink at other Harrah's locations, such as when they play a slot machine.
Another programme lets users watch YouTube videos, either by searching or choosing from a list of popular videos. Harrah's officials said they reached a licensing deal with YouTube on Wednesday.
The table also includes a program called Flirt, which lets customers sitting at any such table in the lounge see and chat with each other, take and e-mail pictures and even trade cell phone numbers.
"In a different point in my life, I might use Flirt a lot," Stanley said.
Other programmes let users play video games or get information about restaurants, shows, nightclubs and other Harrah's attractions.
Pete Thompson, Microsoft's general manager of surface computing, said the table's computer was designed so businesses can customise it to meet their needs.
"This is very open. There's no scripting," Thompson said. "People feel a sense of freedom."
Thompson said the computer uses a camera behind the screen to detect hand movements, which become visible to the camera like silhouettes once users press their fingers on the table. That lets the table display high resolution images but still function as a table, he said. Unlike a typical computer monitor, you can still set drinks on it.
Surface was first put into use in April by AT&T Inc at its wireless stores. The 22 tables at a handful of stores are programmed to recognise eight wireless phones - but not Microsoft's competitor Apple Inc's iPhone - and give information about features.
Other applications are either in the works or in development, he said, and the company plans to use versions of the computer and link them throughout its properties.
Stanley said the Surface computers could eventually be tied to its Total Rewards program and possibly offer new ways to gamble.
Thompson said tables for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. and T-Mobile USA are in development. He said he expected other companies to begin using the tables by next year. - Oskar Garcia
