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Another Beer Please

Posted by michael on from the brooklyn-lager dept.

jmichaelg writes "What do you get when you combine a glass, a PIC computer, two capacitors, a coil and a zener Diode? A wireless beer glass that signals your waiter when you need a refill. The circuit is an RFID transponder that measures the fluid level in a glass and transmits a globally unique ID coupled to the fluid level reading when queried by an antenna hidden in your table. The query provides enough power to drive the circuit so no batteries are needed. A technical paper describes the circuitry in the table and the glass." This hit the news over a year ago, but we didn't have the technical details.

19 of 333 comments (clear)

  1. This isn't helping by mfivis · · Score: 5, Funny

    Okay- this doesn't help our obesity issues at all. We're the only country with drivethroughs every 5 feet and now we are spared the exercise of raising our hand to signal the waiting staff for a refill.

    1. Re:This isn't helping by madMingusMax · · Score: 5, Funny

      We may be fat and lazy, but damn! we sure are efficient!

      --
      Don't be a zoa (zealous overbearing ass), be happy!
  2. So what happens when... by sTavvy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    You don't want another drink, but your glass/table has ordered you another one, and teh waiter brings it over???
    and then proceeds to add the drink to the bill even though you didn't drink it, but you did order it.?

    1. Re:So what happens when... by Advocadus+Diaboli · · Score: 5, Funny

      Well, usually I pay for what I have ordered. In that case the glass placed the order without my approval, so I pay only the first one and all refills have to be charged to the glass. :-)

    2. Re:So what happens when... by SaraSmith · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Because people are FUCKING STUPID. Arbys and Taco Bell have both tried this, and people can't figure it out. "Duh... I pushed taco and said my order was done, now it says to pay the cashier?? what do I do???"

    3. Re:So what happens when... by troc · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Here in Holland, most of the waiters in the cafes with outdoor terraces use wireless handsets to transmit their orders to the kitchen and to receive a signal the order is ready. This way you get the interaction without the hassle of the waiter buggering off to chat to the chef :)

      Troc

      --
      Troc's dubious podcast and blog: http://www.trocnet.net
  3. RFID tags by jmobley · · Score: 5, Funny

    So... RFID tags are our friend now? I'm so confused.

    /goes off to get a beer

  4. hrm. by pb · · Score: 5, Funny

    What's so interesting about a wireless beer glass--aren't they *all* wireless? Was there a failed wired beer glass prototype that /. didn't report on? ...as for signalling the waiter when you need a refill, it's already the waiter's job to look at the glass and ask the customer if he wants another. If the beer glass replaced this function, then I'd have to start tipping the glass instead of the waiter... and there's no way I'm going to tip my precious glass of beer!

    --
    pb Reply or e-mail; don't vaguely moderate.
  5. RFIDs would suck in Star Wars... by macshune · · Score: 5, Funny

    Obi-Wan: These are not the droids you are looking for...
    Storm Troopers: Actually sir, yes, they are. These droids have a globally unique identifier that signals they are indeed the droids we are looking for. What's it to you, anyways? *pause* Hey, wait a second! We just scanned your robe and found out that you bought your robe using your Imperial Credit Card....MR. KENOBI
    Obi-Wan: Uhhhh... Uhhh...

  6. Responsible Service of Alcohol by sTavvy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Also kind of throws the "Responsible service Of Alcohol" policy that we have in Australia.
    How is the glass going to know how drunk the person is, and if they should be seerved any more alcohol?

  7. Conflicted. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I thought we hates RFIDs. No, no we loves them when they have beer involved! Shut up, you! RFIDs are our enemies. Hssssss! But beer is our precioussssss..... NO SHUT UP! SHUT UP!! We hates the RF-trickies. We hates them. I thought.... we liked.... beer... NO! LIES! They all hate you, and track you with RFID tricksies.... the beer is our friend, though, the TV told me so. Lies! Lies with boobies! Nobody likes you! Beer likes me beer was always lyinggg to you. Yess, tricksie. So they can track your beer supply and get you when you're... No! be quiet! Gahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!! *sob*

  8. In related news... by nfras · · Score: 5, Funny

    It has been announced that after signalling for the 4th drink it will also notify your partner to go into "sulk mode" and make up the bed in the spare room.

    --
    You call me a pedant? I prefer the term "correct"
  9. 30% Empty by femto · · Score: 5, Funny
    Presumably these glasses will indicate empty even though they ar 30% full, the glass will self destruct if you take too long to drink your beer and you will not be able to fill the glas with homebrew beer? When they do refill it, maybe you only get half a glass of beer?

    (Betcha students can't sneak them out of the pub either.)

    1. Re:30% Empty by Chuck+Chunder · · Score: 5, Funny
      Betcha students can't sneak them out of the pub either
      I think you are vastly underestimating the thieving abilities of drunk students. They could be chained to a 200 kilo block of concrete and still go missing.

      In fact, you'd probably lose more because it would be seen as a challenge.
      --
      Boffoonery - downloadable Comedy Benefit for Bletchley Park
  10. But... but... by Inoshiro · · Score: 5, Funny

    What of my paranoia?! It has RFIDs in it! It's evil!

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    Internet Explorer (n): Another bug -- that is, a feature that can't be turned off -- in Windows.
  11. A better question... by Inoshiro · · Score: 5, Funny

    "How is the glass going to know how drunk the person is, and if they should be seerved any more alcohol?"

    How is the glass going to be able to walk over to the bar, hop under the tap, and fill itself up with more beer?

    There's still a person in the equation, so don't worry about it.

    --
    --
    Internet Explorer (n): Another bug -- that is, a feature that can't be turned off -- in Windows.
  12. Low tech solution by Matthias+Wiesmann · · Score: 5, Informative
    I like high tech stuff, but sometimes, there is a simple low-tech solution that is simpler, cheaper and often more robust.

    Do you know that there is a low tech solution that is in use for years? In germany beer mugs have a lid. If the lid is open, the waiter knows you want a refill, if not you don't want a refill...

    This solution is also wireless...

  13. At 50% by neglige · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...will the glass report itself to be half empty or half full??

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    My cats ate my karma. They also wrote this comment.
  14. Farking with order-takers II by LinuxHam · · Score: 5, Funny

    Back when I frequented Mickey D's, I would often listen in on their headset freq. On a couple of occasions, I would turn the radio way up and cause feedback. "Owww! What the HELL is that?!?!" On one other occasion, the order-taker was being a smart ass. She would ask each and every customer..

    OT: "is that everything?"
    C: "yes"
    OT: "are you sure?"
    C: "uh, yes"
    OT: "100%"
    C: "YES"

    so when she asked me if I was sure, I replied, "100%". The next few seconds of silence was among the funniest in memory.

    --
    Intelligent Life on Earth