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A table is provided which houses a computer system including a display, a plurality of input and output devices, and one or more viewing orientation controls. The display is provided within the frame of the table in a substantially vertical alignment and under a flat surface which is made of a trans

A table is provided which houses a computer system including a display, a plurality of input and output devices, and one or more viewing orientation controls. The display is provided within the frame of the table in a substantially vertical alignment and under a flat surface which is made of a transparent or translucent material, such as plastic. The flat surface allows for viewing of the display from any seating position at the table, and further may protect the display from any fluids that may be spilled or sprayed onto the flat surface. The input and output devices may be provided within enclosures which prevent damage from fluids, yet still allow user access. The viewing orientation controls allow a plurality of users to rotate the display or an image on the display so that the image is oriented to a specific seating position. The computer may be connected to a network system, such as the Internet, so as to allow user interaction with a multitude of internal or external data sources. A plurality of such tables may be further networked together and controllable by a central server. Each table may accept the input of coins, currency, credit cards, debit cards, financial account identifiers and the like for making payments via the computer system. The table is especially suited for use in a restaurant, a cafe, a pub and the like so that patrons may dine while using the computer system.

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We claim: 1. A housing for an interactive computer system, comprising: a tabletop having an opening there through; a display oriented to be viewed through the opening in the tabletop and displaying an image thereon; a frame located below the tabletop and supporting the display; a viewing orientati

We claim: 1. A housing for an interactive computer system, comprising: a tabletop having an opening there through; a display oriented to be viewed through the opening in the tabletop and displaying an image thereon; a frame located below the tabletop and supporting the display; a viewing orientation selector changing the viewing orientation of the image independent of the display; and a base for supporting at least a portion of the tabletop and the frame, the base having a first end, a second end and a hollow section disposed between the first and second ends in which the frame is located, the hollow section adapted for receiving a cord including at least one of: a network communication line, a telecommunications line or an electrical transmission line. 2. The housing of claim 1, wherein the frame is positioned to allow the display to be oriented in a substantially vertical alignment compared to the tabletop. 3. The housing of claim 1, wherein the frame is positioned to allow the display to be oriented at a predetermined angle from a seating position of the tabletop. 4. The housing of claim 1, further comprising: a telephone operatively connected to the cord. 5. The housing of claim 1, further comprising: the cord, wherein the cord provides at least one of electrical power or display data to the display. 6. The housing of claim 1, further comprising: at least one of: a water-resistant, a water-proof or water-tight surface disposed over the opening in the tabletop for enclosing the display within the tabletop. 7. The housing of claim 6, wherein the surface is substantially flat. 8. The housing of claim 6, wherein the surface comprises at least one of: a transparent or a translucent material through which the display may be viewed. 9. The housing of claim 1, wherein the frame is arranged for supporting a computer. 10. The housing of claim 9, further comprising the computer. 11. The housing of claim 10, further comprising: the cord, and wherein the cord provides at least one of electrical power or network data to the computer. 12. The housing of claim 11, wherein the cord is further provided for transmitting network data from the computer. 13. The housing of claim 10, further comprising: an input device for transmitting command data to the computer, the command data being entered by a user. 14. The housing of claim 13, wherein the input device is a keyboard. 15. The housing of claim 14, wherein the keyboard is disposed within the tabletop. 16. The housing of claim 14, wherein the keyboard is disposed within at least one of: a water-proof, a water-tight, or a water-resistant covering. 17. The housing of claim 14, wherein the input device is at least one of a touch pad, a touch-screen, a mouse or a camera. 18. The housing of claim 14, wherein the input device is a lockout device for preventing at least one of: a change in a viewing orientation of the display or an input from a second input device. 19. The housing of claim 14, wherein the input device is a receiver for receiving wireless input signals from a remote device. 20. The housing of claim 10, further comprising: an output device including at least one of: a speaker, a television signal receiver, a radio signal receiver or a printer. 21. The housing of claim 10, further comprising: a currency acceptor for accepting a currency value from at least one of: a deposited coin, a deposited currency note, a credit card, a debit card, a smart card, a telephone calling card, a financial account identifier or a pre-paid telephone card, the currency acceptor for transmitting the currency value to the computer as a payment for a service. 22. The housing of claim 21, wherein the service includes at least one of: an Internet access, a rental of an input device, a rental of a game, a restaurant bill, or a product ordered through the computer. 23. The housing of claim 10, wherein the computer comprises a communication port operatively connected to the cord for transmitting data between the computer and a network. 24. The housing of claim 23, wherein the network comprises at least one of: a local-area network, a wide-area network, an Internet or an Intranet. 25. The housing of claim 24, wherein the computer receives access limitation data from a server connected to the network. 26. The housing of claim 10, wherein the computer stores user login data for a predetermined time. 27. The housing of claim 26, wherein the predetermined time is substantially a difference between a user login time and a user logoff time. 28. The housing of claim 1, further comprising: the cord for connecting the display to a remote server; and an input device connected to the remote server via the cord, the cord for transmitting a command signal from the input device to the remote server and for transmitting a display signal from the remote server to the display. 29. An interactive computer system, comprising: a tabletop; a display disposed within the tabletop for providing an image; and a viewing orientation selector for changing an orientation of the image independent of the display to accommodate a plurality of seating positions. 30. The system of claim 29, wherein the display has a substantially vertical alignment in comparison to the tabletop. 31. The system of claim 29, wherein the display is oriented at a predetermined angle from a seating position of the tabletop. 32. The system of claim 29, further comprising: at least one of: a water-proof, a water-resistant or a water-tight surface disposed above the tabletop for enclosing the display within the tabletop. 33. The housing of claim 32, wherein the surface is substantially flat. 34. The housing of claim 32, wherein the surface comprises at least one of: a transparent or a translucent material, with the display visible there through. 35. The system of claim 29, further comprising the computer. 36. The system of claim 35, further comprising: an input device for transmitting command data to the computer, the command data being entered by a user. 37. The system of claim 36, wherein the input device is a keyboard. 38. The system of claim 37, wherein the keyboard is disposed within the tabletop. 39. The system of claim 37, wherein the keyboard is disposed within at least one of: a water-proof, a water-resistant or a water-tight covering. 40. The system of claim 36, wherein the input device is a lockout device for preventing at least one of: a change in the orientation of the image or an input from a second input device. 41. The system of claim 36, wherein the input device is a receiver for receiving wireless input signals from a remote device. 42. The system of claim 36, wherein the input device is at least one of a touch pad, a touch-screen or a camera. 43. The system of claim 29, further comprising: an output device including at least one of: a speaker, a television signal receiver, a radio signal receiver or a printer. 44. The system of claim 29, further comprising: a currency acceptor for accepting a currency value from at least one of: a deposited coin, a deposited currency note, a credit card, a debit card, a smart card, a telephone calling card, a financial account identifier or a pre-paid telephone card, the currency acceptor transmitting the currency value to the computer as a payment for a service. 45. The system of claim 44, wherein the service includes at least one of: an Internet access, a rental of an input device, a rental of a game, a restaurant bill, or a product ordered through the computer. 46. The system of claim 29, wherein the computer comprises a communication port operatively connected to a cord for transmitting data between the computer and a network. 47. The system of claim 46, wherein the network comprises at least one of: a local-area network, a wide-area network, an Internet or an Intranet. 48. The system of claim 47, wherein the computer receives access limitation data from a server connected to the network. 49. The system of claim 29, wherein the computer stores user login data for a predetermined time. 50. The system of claim 49, wherein the predetermined time is substantially a difference between a user login time and a user logoff time. 51. The system of claim 29, further comprising: a cord for connecting the display to a remote server; and an input device connected to the remote server via the cord, the cord for transmitting a command signal from the input device to the remote server and for transmitting a display signal from the remote server to the display. 52. The system of claim 29, further comprising: a telephone.