Over the weekend, I was thinking that it would be pretty cool if restaurants and bars had buttons or switches or something for customers to "Like" the place, or check in to Facebook Places or Foursquare. Sort of like that Bakers Tweet device, or the pizza delivery thing that Crispin had done a couple of years ago.

Then I came across this today.

An interesting installation on a University campus that prompts students to check in on Facebook Places, and spread the word about the University. Sort of garish and loud, it is different, but far from the same thing.

"We're encouraging students to check in, so when they do, it'll show up in their news feed and maybe their friends still in high school will see it over and over again," the university's marketing director told AdAge

I think there is a lot of potential to bring something more tangible and tactile to the check in experience. How much more effective would it be to do the check in and tell your friends through a real interaction? (Please keep your answer to yourself if you are a location awareness hater!).

Maybe it has already been done somewhere? I remember when I was at the customs counter in Shanghai, China earlier this year there was a feedback box right on the officer's counter, with three buttons to register your feedback. That was pretty cool, very easy to punch in an opinion after you have been grilled by security.