There's an App for That

This popular saying has been thrown around as the answer to almost every dilemma. Apple even filed for a trademark on the saying in 2009 after they aired it in a commercial for the iPhone 3G. This past week I finally realized the truth and magnitude of this saying. My family planned a trip to The Georgia Aquarium, and while buying our tickets, there was an advertisement to download their app for information about events, or to request a map from an employee upon arrival. I decided to utilize the app while we were there, and it became very useful in planning our day. The app allowed you to keep up with events and showtimes throughout the day, as well as a map around the aquarium. Throughout the day, I never spotted a single person with a physical map or brochure in their hand, and I noticed more people on their phones. Whether they were utilizing the app or not, it made me think about the immense impact of the digital realm on society.

After our visit at the aquarium, we made our way to The Cheesecake Factory. When I walked in the door, the first thing that caught my eye was a poster promoting their app, "CakePay." This app shows pictures of items on the menu, and allows you to pay for your meal, without waiting on your check. You can also split the check and add a tip right from your phone. The Cheesecake Factory is not the only restaurant to create an app for customers. Places like Dunkin' Donuts and Chick-fil-A allow you to order your food ahead of time and have it ready when you arrive.

From alarm clocks that make you solve a math problem to turn it off, to flight simulators, and a multitude of dating apps, there truly is an app for every topic and occasion. The apps commonly used for dining or leisure activities, like the ones mentioned above, are usually designed with the customer in mind for a more convenient, stress free experience. Generations of people have become more and more engulfed in their phones, making it necessary for places to adopt consumer generated content and apps to keep up with their competition. Our world has become so digitally developed that it is almost detrimental to a company to rely solely on printed sources, rather than digital integration.