Beer Stein Goes Hi Tech

Spudley writes "Beer is a subject close to many slashdot-readers' hearts, so you'll be pleased to learn that Mitsubishi has invented a glass that can tell when it's empty, and order a refill from the bar. Of course, it'll still have to be filled the old fashioned way, but at least the bar staff will know which ones need refilling - the... ehm... empty ones." I like that it's dishwasher safe. Drunk people can't be trusted to hand wash glass.

Comments

this might be more useful...

[bje2]

how about a beer stein that can scan the crowd in the bar...and then keep ordering you beers until the ladies look good...

Re:this might be more useful...

[binner1]

How about it keeps ordering them beers until you look good?

-Ben

Re:this might be more useful...

[kin_korn_karn]

in my case the women would drop dead of alcohol poisoning first.

*Real* High Tech: Larry Niven's Glass

[Embedded Geek]

In one of his stories, SF author Larry Niven proposed a beer mug that had a matter transporter in the bottom. Instead of calling the bartender, it automatically, silently refilled itself from the keg.

One of the narrator's comments was "A glass like that could destroy a man"

Re: *Real* High Tech: Larry Niven's Glass

[DeadVulcan]

SF author Larry Niven proposed a beer mug that [...] automatically, silently refilled itself from the keg.

Hmm, in that case, the obvious course of action is to eat the mug.

Interesting, but.

[viper21]

I'm sorry, but does anybody realize how stupid this is?

Like people that work at bars (or the bars themselves) are organized enough to guarantee that:

a. somebody will keep track of who, at which table, has which glass.

b. waitstaff will actually use this.

Come on. You look at a table. Glass is either full or empty. Or, if you are smart, you sold them a pitcher. That was probably the last technological update that any beer pouring establishment needed.

Fill glasses, fill pitcher, deliver to table. Periodically monitor the pitcher mechanism until you no longer detect an amber, or red, or dark, frothy content. When content is empty, fork a process to your waitress. Have her deliver a new pitcher of frothy goodness.

Electronic beer glasses, heh. Are they going to assign individual addresses to every glass made? Where there is one bar, there are more bars. Talk about miscommunication.

"OH! That must be glass 716 from across the street"

Heh,

-S

Good idea? Maybe...

[donutz]

Yahoo is also running a similar story, based on a New Scientist article. In the New Scientist article, this technology makes sense: in a restaurant setting, waiters can make sure to keep people's glasses topped off, that way the customers stay happier. But in a pub setting, I dont see this technology working as well. I mean, how does the glass know when the drinker has drunk enough for the night? Obviously it doesn't....and because everyone is different, there's no algorithm that can tell you how much a person should be allowed to drink, and that'd be treading on the person's privacy anyway. But yeah, I'd love to see this used on restaurant soda and water glasses...

Not quite...

[BadDoggie]

Umm... Taco? The drunk people are the customers, who are rarely called upon to wash their own glasses, and most bars don't let the staff drink (bah!).

This might be kinda interesting for Oktoberfest, but the cost for more than 1M of the 1-liter mugs would be incredible. Speaking of Oktoberfest, I'll let you all in on how it all works here:

1. Put your butt on a bench and they'll bring you a beer. You will NOT be served at Oktoberfest unless you are seated. Everyone will let you sit down for the two or three minutes necessary to order a beer if you ask nicely and tell them that's what you're doing.
2. Tourists go to the HB (Hofbräuhaus); the best beer is Augustiner.
3. To be sure to get faster service, fuller beer steins and better food, tip 15% or more. The women work HARD (and if you had to listen to the "Hey, Baby" song 3 times an hour, 13 hours a day for 2 1/2 weeks straight, you'd understand).

woof.

What I need is not a beer mug that tells the staff I need another. I need one that tells me I don't!

Japanese "to do" list

[totallygeek]

I would like to see the Japanese "to do" list. I mean, they come up with some interesting stuff, but it is all filler for Sharper Image or some other yuppie, worthless rag.

... and in related news.....

[CharlezManning]

Mitsubishi Beer Glass Division (MBG) to be sued by mother of social misfit that drank himself to death.

Says Mrs B Sober:"My boy, Larry (37), was such a nice boy. Sure he couldn't talk to people so never went out. When he drank at home I would switch to serving him warm milk after the third glass and send him off to bed. Then MBG came along and he could sit in the corner of the pub and the beer kept coming. The MBG didn't know when to stop, didn't order milk after the third glass or snuggle him into bed. MBG killed my son. MBG is responsible because they should have a warning label that says it can enhance addictive behaviour and won't order milk or put you to bed."

Costs more, but works just as well

[Enry]

I go to the local Irish pub and say:

"Keep this Guinness full"

Then leave a nice tip.

Works every time.

Where the beer really is

[Tattva]

Beer is a subject close to many slashdot-readers' hearts

Prolly closer to their guts.

Future Upgrades

[DeadBugs]

If the girl with the mustache and 3 chins starts looking attractive the Beer mug should stop ordering refills and start ordering coffee.

Application: karaoke bars.

[sulli]

Those of you who have been to Japan or Japanese neighborhoods in the US will be familiar with the "karaoke box" type bar, where the user rents a room and sings with 10-20 of his closest friends.

Now many of these places offer bottled beer because there isn't a good way to offer draft beer when you don't have a bartender in the room. And putting a tap in the room would be an invitation to massive floods when a drunken salaryman (or woman) accidentally forgets that he needs a glass for all that beer he's drinking.

But with this solution, problem solved! The manager simply looks at the beer status display, and when enough glasses show up as empty on the display, he sends a waiter back to the room with freshly poured Super Dry. Happy customers, more revenue, perfect!

Half empty?

[Bender Unit 22]

So when it's only half filled, will the chip see it as half empty or half full??