Service concept

Introduction

AaltoLunch is a mobile service which provides users a pool of menus in the restaurants of Aalto University and a platform to interact with their friends regarding lunch issues. The main features are:
1. Users can access to the service to check the menus of different restaurants in Aalto University;
2. Users can check the restaurant options with the location-based feature;
3. Users can interact with their friends using the service platform.

Technologies

The service is developed as a web application using JAVA technologies. The data are fetched from the existing sources; JSPs will be used for rendering the content to browser client; and Servlets will be the server side component for handling the user requests from browser.
These components will perform the following jobs:

1. Utilize the Aalto Social Interface (ASI) for fetching the user’s details including her personal details and friend’s information [/session, /people].
2. Make the HTTP calls to three different web places to fetch the information about the restaurants and their menus.
3. Store the user’s selection about the launch place for the day in the Sizzle platform [/appdata] using ASI.
Note: REST calls to ASI interface will be performed by Java based open source API, Jersey.

Target users

The main user group of AaltoLunch is the students and researchers of Aalto University. In addition to it, they can be also staff, visitors etc.

Benefits

The service as part of the Gizzle project brings interesting features to the campus mobility. Some benefits can be foreseen as:

1. Mobility
The service can increase the mobility of students’ campus life. There are many restaurants dispersing around the campus, and students do not have to physically check many sites, but simply access to AaltoLunch to find their today’s menu and location.

2. Interaction
AaltoLunch provides a perfect platform of interacting with each other. Wanna eat with your friends together? You don’t have to make multiple calls! Start a lunch meeting by inviting your friends via AaltoLunch. It’s easy and simple, just add your friends’ name, time and location. Then hit the road!

3. Efficiency
With the help of AaltoLunch, you can save the time of searching your proper dinner or text messaging your friends. Dinner time can be easier and funnier!

4. Competition
With the comparison and comment system, the quality and reputation of restaurants easily emerge. Better restaurant service may follow around.