THE SECRET GENIUS OF MODERN LIFE

THURSDAY, 8PM, BBC2 Professor Hannah Fry learns about the tech that powers food delivery apps

1 The first time a food takeaway order was made by telephone was in 1922 at a Chinese restaurant in Los Angeles called Kin-Chu Cafe.

2 China is the largest market for food delivery, with a market size of A31 billion last year.

3 Technology in food delivery is nothing new — in 1984, OAPs in the north of England ordered a Greggs takeaway via their TVs, using a system which linked to screens at the bakery.

4 We’ve got American Ingrid Kosar (left) to thank for keeping takeaways warm. In 1982, inspired by ski clothes, she invented the first thermal bag. Domino’s Pizza bought her invention. 5 The Deliveroo algorithm now used to ensure customers receive the correct food is based on India’s ‘dabbawala’ delivery system, a method of marking lunch boxes that was devised in the 1890s.