There may be no better example for the remarkable reputation of the late Steve Jobs than the iPad. The tablet seemingly went from “Why do we need that?” to “I can't live without it” in a matter of minutes. It further cemented the feeling in some circles that Apple and Jobs knew what the consumer needed before they did.

One of many fields that has been trying to take advantage of the iPad is the hospitality industry. The iPad's size, portability and computing power makes it a potential fits in several areas. There are companies specializing in developing the device for point of sale and industry writers have detailed how the tablet can impact their meal.

Here are a few examples of how the device is making its way into our restaurants and bars:

-The Illinois steakhouse Chicago Cut has been using the iPad as what can only be described as a wine list on steroids.

Instead of leafing through a Spartan book containing little more than grape types and prices, Chicago Cut's iPad list allows customers to virtually view entire bottles, watch videos from the winemakers and see pictures of the vineyards.

-Another American steakhouse, Lark Creek Steak in San Francisco, is taking advantage of the iPad for both wine list and menu. Lark Creek was one of the first restaurants in the city to experiment with putting a complete menu on an iPad.

Not only do customers take advantage of pairing information like that available in places like Chicago Cut, but they can also see images of different food items.

-Earlier this year Stacked Restaurants, a small California chain, announced it was replacing its menus (and some staff) with iPads. The plan was to have customers create their orders at the tables using the tablets, cutting down on cost for servers.

Stacked encases its iPads in frames that place the tablets several inches above the floor. Customers pick toppings for hamburgers, pizzas and salads and see a preview of their order displayed visually in front of them. Customers will also be able to pay for their meals with the iPads.

A few points to add: Several of the establishments reported an increase in sales when they began using the devices, though some of that could be due to specials connected to “the new toy.”

As for the obvious concerns about investing money into something that would seem to be a theft risk, the owner of Stacked said after several months that he had not had a single device broken or stolen. In most cases the tablets are connected to sensors which are triggered when they leave the building.

The iPad's role within the industry is still in its infancy, but it has enough potential that owners and general managers need to keep an eye on in it over the upcoming months and years.