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Smart Sofa Recognizes Occupants by Weight

Posted by michael on from the chubby-hubby dept.

I am Kobayashi writes "According to CNN.com scientists at Trinity College in Dublin have created my dream couch. And yes, I admit to being a couch potato... Apparently the couch can be programmed with a personal greeting (it recognizes you by weight), and the scientists hope that it will one day be able to automatically tune to your favorite television programs, order you take out food, and control other household appliances."

13 of 353 comments (clear)

  1. Hi, Cindy, want the same as last time? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Cindy? Who is Cindy? No, honest honey, I have no idea who Cindy is. What's this couch talking about! ?"

  2. Recognizing by weight by TWX · · Score: 5, Funny

    It won't be able to recognize you by weight if it continues to do absolutely everything for you, like ordering food and changing the channel on the TV without requiring you to get up...

    I wonder if they built an AI into it to intelligently determine who the occupant is by weight gain over time...

    --
    Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
    1. Re:Recognizing by weight by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny
      changing the channel on the TV without requiring you to get up...

      Most people can already do this. They use this amazing invention called a remote control.
  3. Great idea by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Science: Pushing the boundaries of sloth, one invention at a time.

    1. Re:Great idea by panaceaa · · Score: 5, Funny

      A bit off-topic, but has anyone noticed that stores always call couches "sofas" and never "couches?" Examples: Ikea, Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware, Crate & Barrel and even Walmart! When recently looking to buy a new couch, I couldn't find a major site that sold "couches."

      I think company's sell "sofas" because "couches" are perceived as things slothy people buy. Lazy people "lounge on the couch" on the weekends. The American culture always uses the word "couch" to describe unmotivated people's television watching habits.

      But in the eyes of marketers, consumers must see sofas as possessions of elegant, worldly people who are out and about. Motivated, outgoing people buy "sofas" to decorate their posh interiors! "No couches for me, sir, I want a sofa!"

      --
      my blog
  4. I'm not impressed. by mmoncur · · Score: 5, Informative

    So... it's an uncomfortable couch with a $10 digital scale built in?

    And they got on CNN? Obviously the rest of us just aren't trying hard enough.

    Real geeks don't want that couch, they want funny-looking ergonomic sofas or something with a built-in stereo and drink holder. ...or a couch made of mouse pads.

    --

    It's Slashdot's evil twin... SlashNOT
  5. Read the article... by attemptedgoalie · · Score: 5, Informative

    Before many of you run amok, and make fun of heavy people, please read the article.

    It's in development, and has plans to be used to assist the elderly and those in hospitals.

    This is not some way to keep people indoors, or track their TV habits, or any of the other conspiracy baloney that will sure to be brought up soon.

    --
    My mom says I'm cool.
  6. I don't get it. by John_McKee · · Score: 5, Insightful

    OK, am I the only person that doesn't get it? First a side note, it isn't even a sofa, it is more like a old medical exam table, but I digress. Sofa's traditionally are for more than one occupant, so how would it deal with more than one person on it? Furthermore, ignoring the fact that it would be near impossible to get an accurate identity based only on the weight on a sofa, how is it really useful? My sofa knows I'm on it, what does it do for me? It can't really adjust any preferences for devices around me in a manner that is useful, I use my sofa for tons of diffrent uses, having guests over, reading, watching tv, surfing on my laptop, and all of those are would fail to benfit from my sofa knowing that I personally am on it. It just seems like the solution to a problem that doesn't exist.

  7. Now the wife isn't the only one to tell you to los by headbulb · · Score: 5, Funny

    Now the wife isn't the only one to tell you to lose weight.

    Just imagine watching the superbowl, when you pick up a chip. Only to have your couch tell you "Put down the chip chubby."

  8. This is a huge improvement by teamhasnoi · · Score: 5, Funny

    from their prototype that required you to place a 12 ounce, specially modified bluetooth tranciever up your ass.

  9. Re:This particular model... by Throtex · · Score: 5, Funny

    Now with ass-groove memory!

  10. Re:Intelligent couch? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny
    I, for one, welcome our repetitive +5 Funny template joke overlords ...

    Wait, no I don't.

  11. Heh by NanoGator · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Your honor, I did it because my husband hacked the sofa to say 'whoah, one at a time!' whenever I sat down on it."

    "Judgement in favor of the defendent: Justifiable homicide."

    --
    "Derp de derp."