Restaurant carry-out, which dates back to ancient Rome, has provided a convenient eating solution for time-strapped civilizations for ages. However, with consumers always looking for the next level of convenience, like not getting out of the car, delivery and drive-thru orders have taken hold, making carry-out the less convenient service mode.

Post-pandemic prototypes stress drive-thru, mobile-order and third-party pick-up options.

The full/fast dichotomy has broadened to a much more varied dynamic that includes ghost kitchens and digital brands, order-and-pay at-the-table capabilities, and even drive-thru.

The one that caught my attention: “Ghost kitchens are projected to hold a 50% share of the world’s drive-thru and takeaway foodservice markets.”

Burger brand had acquired personalization platform in 2019 and uses it in drive-thrus and ordering kiosks.

Okay, that headline is not fair, but the article gives the perspective of a line-level drive-thru employee: "Basically, they need to get their order taken and out to them in under 3 minutes.” With speed a major part of the drive-thru process, it's only natural that some orders get butchered.

Tesla’s sophisticated cameras, sensors and radar enable the electric vehicles to detect all kinds of perils on the road, from the intensity of snowfall to approaching emergency vehicles. But this week a Tesla driver in Texas noticed the car’s powerful artificial intelligence systems had a blind spot when it came to hazards of the four-legged variety.

Mother was pleasantly surprised by their recent drive-thru healthcare experience.