If you’re hip, now, with it, and wow, you may have been to a sushi restaurant that serves food via conveyor belt. I’ve seen two variations of this abominable stupidity: in one version, you order your California rolls or whatnot (in this case, via a table-mounted tablet) and a few minutes later, your food automagically arrives at your table on a conveyor belt; the other type has a continuous flow of grub going past all the tables in the place, and diners can snag whatever they want as it passes by (not sure how they keep track of who gets charged for what).

Any way you serve it, this seems like a huge step in the wrong direction for mankind. Because you know who else gets their food delivered straight to their gaping gullets via conveyor belt? Livestock, that’s who. Like cows and pigs and chickens. So, good job, humanity.

At Least the Technology is Sound

Again, this is a terrible idea. It starts with sushi, but before you know it, restaurants of all stripes will be delivering food via conveyor belt and, along with digital ordering as mentioned above, completely removing human-to-human interaction from the dining experience. But it’s cheaper in the long run, so screw people, right?

The only positive aspect I see in all this is the technology itself. Now, using a iPad to place an order is nothing new—it’s merely an updated version of the phone systems drive-in diners used back in the day. But the conveyor belt technology at work here is actually pretty impressive.

From what I’ve seen, these automated eateries (particularly the ones that deliver your exact order to your table) use highly customized conveyor systems, with a series of overlapping or interconnected belts to move food from point A to point B. There’s some seriously impressive switch-track game on display there.

And, perhaps best—and most important—of all, these restaurants are using food-safe stainless steel belts. Stainless steel has long been the preferred material for a wide range of items and implements used throughout the food and beverage industry. Most modern restaurants use stainless steel for almost all of their kitchen appliances, fixtures, and tools, so it’s good to see that it’s carried over into the actual service of their food, as well.

We may be getting lazier and fatter by the second, but at least our food won’t be contaminated.