University canteen steps into the future

A university in Anhui Province has introduced smart new technology which allows students to save precious time usually wasted lining up in the canteen.

Hefei University of Technology has set up two automatic payment devices, allowing students to simply place their tray on top of a scanner and then swipe their meal card, completing payment in a matter of seconds.

Mei Rui, the canteen manager, said that every plate contains a chip to record price information. He added that the smart system will offer even more in the future, including a menu, nutritional information and health advice on a mobile app.

The system, unsurprisingly, is popular with students keen on using their time more wisely.

One student, Li Meng, said it has practically removed the chance for charging errors, while another student, Lu Defan, said the new system is much faster than before and that he appreciates not standing in line for so long.