The price of humanity these days is paid in tips.

It’s the first day of spring, and there’s still some snow left on the streets. You walk into a cafe, 21st century cafe, where everything boasts of high technology, including coffee. It has the taste of quick steamed milk, time-brewed caffeine and extra-refined sugar. Of course, how do you forget the mineral water?!

Well, none of us think about it. Why would we? It’s our world, the one we designed.

You order a coffee, like you always do, and pay for it. You wanted to buy the WiFi password though. The high-tech cashier not only uses the square device and the apple pad to place your order but is also ‘efficiently’ programmed to treat you with courtesy. She enters your small cappuccino into the system, ensures that she carefully read out the price (even though she says it ten times every minute), and once she swipes your card, she swivels the device towards you.

“Could you sign here please?”

• No-tip

• 15% - Good

• 20% - Great

• 25% - Excellent

You just had one of your everyday experiences, everyday coffees, in your everyday place and you have no idea who the cashier was a few minutes ago. And yet, you must assess your experience, and pay it in the form of a tip.

“No tip?” but that seems harsh, or worse, makes you feel miserly. You wave your fingers as the cashier follows them. You still have no clue how she looks like, but you know she’s watching.

Your fingers tap, reluctantly, and you turn away the device.

“Thank you!”

Congratulations! You bought your coffee, and just sold yourself to an ‘interactive software’.