Chicago, IL (PRWEB) November 29, 2012
Today product design firm PDT took a step forward in responding to a growing problem how to leave a tip for a job well done when fewer people are carrying cash. With more stores supporting gift cards, credit card payments and mobile payment apps, neighborhood baristas and other service providers are suffering the consequences.
Enter Tipsy!, a conceptual project from PDT, born from the companys ongoing internal drive to uncover innovation opportunities. Tipsy! looks like a classic tip jar, but the eco-friendly cork top houses a smartphone that receives tips electronically.
A customer with a smartphone automatically locates the establishment through GPS using the Tipsy! app, selects the amount of the tip, then bumps the phone to the cork lid to submit. Tipsy! means customers can safely leave tips over a secure web connection, whether wired, Wi-Fi or cellular.
In the United States, only about 7 percent of transactions are done with cash. For those with cash on hand, Tipsy! also has a slot for tipping with coins and bills.
We want to be ready for a world without cash, said Lisa Yanz, product designer at PDT. As product designers, we try to understand how our changing economy affects the way people work, shop and play. We saw the economic and social implications of electronic payments on tipping during our own trips to the coffee shop, and knew there had to be a better way.
Tipsy! is designed to be compatible with all current and next generation smartphones: