Intelligent Coasters Keep Beer Mugs Full

Dotnaught writes "CNN.com is reporting that two German students have invented a beer mat, or coaster, that uses sensor chips to determine when the beer glass it supports is empty and then radios the bartender for a refill. One of the students interviewed for the story suggested that lifting mugs from sensing mats could double as a voting system during karaoke competitions." From the article: "Unlike the usual cardboard beer mats, the invention is made out of plastic, which means it does not absorb water. Butz said that to get around the problem, ordinary cardboard mats could be placed on top of the plastic version to absorb liquid and display advertising. 'Cardboard beer mats could still sit on top of the plastic mat and there could still be advertising, and you would just exchange the cardboard mat when you wanted to change the advertising.'"

Comments

Correct me if I'm wrong, but...

[rasafras]

...aren't these (or similar) invented by somebody every year? Yet they seem to still be few and far between... What I'm trying to say is, why should this one be any different?

Simpler Solution?

[The Amazing Fish Boy]

Why not just have buttons to push if a beer is needed. The button could be on the coaster, or just on the bar, or at the tables, or whatever. That would probably be cheaper. That also solves the problem of having finished one beer, but not wanting another. Not to mention people walking out of the bar with the coaster, etc.

6 reasons why this is not going to work

[Crouty]

1. People like beer in different sizes. Coaster would have to be calibrated.
2. People do the weirdest things with coasters from which few leave the coaster intact.
3. Coaster without cardbord gets wet. Cardboard soaks beer and would have to be replaced. Cardboard that just lies on top of intelligent coaster does not stick to it. Cardboard glued to the intelligent coaster cannot be replaced easily.
4. Tons of coasters get lost in a pub. Would be expensive.
5. People tend to like waitresses to take care of your refills.
6. Pubs will not be able to save on personnel because of intelligent coasters. Someone still has to look after the customers.

Bargirls

[HermanAB]

Hmm, being a regular male chauvinist pig, I think I much prefer a breasty bar girl in a short skirt coming to ask me whether I want another...