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We’ve all heard of distracted driving, but distracted dining? One Los Angeles restaurant thinks talking and tapping away at phones during meals is a big enough problem that they’re offering customers a 5% discount to turn in their phones before being seated. The owner of Eva Restaurant, Mark Gold, says it’s not even about annoying other guests; it’s about creating the right ambiance. “Eva is home, and we want to create that environment of home, and we want people to connect again,” Gold says. It’s rare to see technology use discouraged these days – in fact it’s quite the opposite. Businesses plaster their windows with stickers advertising their Facebook and Twitter accounts and encourage customers to check in on Four Square and give good reviews on Yelp. As technology continues to become faster, more mobile and more prevalent, I wonder if this kind of backlash will become more common. Would you give up your phone for a discount or extra service?
About Shelly Palmer
Shelly Palmer is the Professor of Advanced Media in Residence at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and CEO of The Palmer Group, a consulting practice that helps Fortune 500 companies with AI strategy, implementation and governance, as well as technology, media and marketing. Named one of LinkedIn’s Top Voices in Technology, he is a bestselling author, covers tech and business for Fox 5’s Good Day New York, is a regular commentator on CNN, and writes the popular daily business blog Think About This. Follow @shellypalmer or visit shellypalmer.com.