Accessibility-first ordering infrastructure — not a food app.
Spling is a structured, accessibility-first digital ordering layer that replaces verbal drive-through ordering with a confirmed, structured, tap-to-transmit transaction initiated by QR (primary) and NFC (optional).
Spling is ordering infrastructure.
It is not just a food app. It is not just accessibility software. It is not just QR ordering. Spling is a structured, accessibility-first, digital ordering layer that replaces verbal drive-through ordering with a confirmed, structured, tap-to-transmit transaction.
Human Objective
Enable independent food ordering for individuals facing speech, hearing, cognitive, literacy, or language barriers.
Operational Objective
Reduce drive-through ordering errors, increase accuracy, reduce labor friction, and improve transaction clarity.
Why verbal ordering fails by design.
Drive-through systems rely on speaker-based communication, verbal repetition, human interpretation, environmental noise, and accent/language clarity. This produces order errors, remakes, frustration, slower throughput, and increased labor cost.
These systems are not designed for people with speech impairments (e.g., dysarthria), deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals, cognitive load/literacy challenges, new immigrants with language barriers, and veterans with service-related communication disabilities. Spling exists to make ordering independent, dignified, and humane.
A system that does not require a voice.
Systems fail when they rely purely on verbal interpretation. Spling replaces speaker-based ordering with confirmed, structured transactions — so independence and accuracy are the default.
“Systems fail when they rely purely on verbal interpretation. I saw it in the field. Spling exists to fix both.”
Every person the current system was not designed for.
Spling was built for the populations verbal ordering excludes — and it improves clarity and accuracy for everyone in every lane.
Deaf & Hard of Hearing
Full ordering independence with no verbal interaction required.
Speech Impairments
Dysarthria, stuttering, and atypical speech no longer block ordering.
Cognitive & Literacy
Reduced cognitive load through clear states and visual selection.
Language Barriers
Menus accessible in the user’s preferred language.
Caregiver-Supported
Structured help without removing user agency at confirmation/transmit.
Veterans
Service-related communication disabilities addressed with dignity.
General Population
Fewer remakes, fewer repeats, more accurate orders for everyone.
Operators
Less labor friction and clearer order payloads into the backend.
One technical flow.
Spling introduces a structured digital ordering layer between the customer and the vendor backend.
Drive-through initiation
User drives up → scans QR code (or taps NFC) → vendor is identified → menu is loaded into Spling.
Accessible order build
User builds order via accessible interface → visually confirms order → no verbal confirmation required.
Tap-to-transmit
User taps to transmit order + process payment → order is sent to vendor backend in structured format.
Multiple ingestion pathways. One normalized menu object.
Spling supports multiple menu ingestion pathways to ensure reliability: vendor API/POS feed (preferred), website extraction, maintained local menu (fallback), and manual vendor upload.
QR code initiation
Drive-through QR contains vendor ID/endpoint. App loads vendor configuration.
NFC initiation (optional)
NFC tag at intercom auto-detects vendor and launches the correct menu.
AI normalization
Parses items and pricing, applies translation, and standardizes format for the ordering engine.
Dietary + allergens
Tags dietary attributes (GF, Vegan, Spicy) and flags allergens when data is available.
Three pathways. One structured order object.
All pathways feed into the same structured order object and require visual confirmation prior to transmission.
Pathway 1: Adaptive Speech (optional)
User-specific speech model (opt-in adaptive learning) with a required confirmation layer. Model improves through confirmed transactions.
Pathway 2: Visual tile / tap
Large photo tiles, adjustable contrast and sizing, haptic confirmation, and clear visual confirmation states for cognitive clarity.
Pathway 3: Caregiver pre-configuration
Caregiver can pre-set favorites/restrictions/recurring items. User still completes vendor identification, final confirmation, and NFC transmit.
Structured confirmation is the differentiator.
Before transmission, the order is displayed in a large confirmation state with explicit review, clear pricing, and visible dietary tags. No ambiguous audio repetition. The system prioritizes structured clarity over speed.
Six steps. Zero words.
Initiate
Drive-through user scans QR code (primary) or taps NFC (optional).
NFC/QR Tap → AI Reads Menu
Vendor is identified. Menu is acquired and normalized into a structured, vendor-specific menu object.
Build order (accessible)
User builds the order via visual tiles/tap, optional adaptive speech, or caregiver pre-configuration.
Visual confirmation
Large confirmation state with explicit review, pricing visibility, and dietary/allergen tags (when available).
Payment
Payment is processed via an integrated payment processor.
Transmit to vendor backend
Order is transmitted in structured format via POS API integration, structured webhook, or a vendor dashboard fallback.
Structured payload to reduce interpretation errors.
Transmission payload includes item IDs, modifiers, allergen flags (when available), timestamp, and transaction ID. This reduces interpretation errors at the kitchen level.
Accessibility is architectural.
High contrast
Built-in contrast mode for clarity.
Typography scaling
Large sizing options and readable type hierarchy.
Haptic confirmations
Clear tactile confirmation states.
Minimal cognitive steps
Reduced steps and clear states (no ambiguous UI).
Optional voice input and translation support are part of the system design.
Revenue streams
Enterprise licensing
Enterprise franchise licensing.
Healthcare deployment
Healthcare / rehabilitation deployment.
Consumer premium
Consumer subscription (premium features).
Vendor analytics
Vendor analytics dashboard; transaction fees (optional model).
Defensible architecture: integrated layers.
It is not just QR ordering, not just NFC payment, and not just accessibility UI. It is the integrated system: vendor identification layer, AI menu ingestion layer, accessibility UI layer, confirmation protocol, structured backend transmission, and feedback loop.
First functional MVP
Core
QR scan → vendor ID routing; static demo menu ingestion; structured order object; confirmation screen.
Payments + backend
Payment integration (e.g., Stripe); backend API endpoint to simulate vendor receive.
Accessibility basics
Accessibility scaling (font size + contrast toggle). AI scraping can be Phase 2; POS integration Phase 3.
A standardized “Accessible Drive-Through Protocol.”
Spling becomes a silent ordering protocol for drive-through, an accessibility independence tool, a vendor analytics layer, and a structured transaction standard.