Smart Ice Cubes Tell When You've Had Enough Alcohol

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Smart Ice Cubes Tell When You've Had Enough Alcohol

Posted by samzenpus on Sunday January 13, 2013 @06:54AM from the slow-down dept.

dstates writes "In just 6 weeks an MIT researcher created smart ice cubes that monitor your drinking. After an alcohol induced blackout motivated a bit of introspection (video), Dhairya Dand pulled together a coin cell battery, an ATtiny microcontroller, and an IR transceiver molded into gelatin to create self-aware glowing ice-cubes. The cubes glow and beat to the ambient music, but more importantly, they know how fast and how much you are drinking, and they change color from green to orange to finally red as you reach your safe limit. If things go too far, the ice cubes can connect to your smartphone and send a text message for a friend come get you. Of course, you have to remember not to swallow them."

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They better keep their pieholes shut by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-13 06:59 · Score: 2, Funny

If they know what's good for them!
1. Re:They better keep their pieholes shut by egcagrac0 · 2013-01-13 11:02 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Mine can just stay green. This can be considered a cost reduction - no need to install orange or red LED's in 'em.
2. Re:They better keep their pieholes shut by DiamondGeezer · 2013-01-13 23:47 · Score: 2
  
  If you feel the need to invent intelligent ice cubes after an alcohol-induced black-out, then you've had enough alcohol.
  
  --
  Tubby or not tubby. Fat is the question
Nerd creates solution in search of a problem... by mumblestheclown · 2013-01-13 07:05 · Score: 4, Insightful

and no marketability.
"Ice Cubes that connect to your smartphone." This is not the brave new future that I want.
Honestly, this should be an early contender for the 2013 ig-Nobels (though I'm guessing / hoping this is just an overhyped undergraduate project). What's particularly bad is that the basic idea is flawed - it uses readings from accelerometers as a proxy for how many sips are being taken per unit time and then this as a proxy for rate and appropriateness of alcohol consumption. While I fully will admit that there is certainly a market for some device, perhaps built into a glass, that would allow a commercial bartender somehow detect whether a patron has had too many (though even that would have lots of legal and practical vulnerabilities), this isn't it and isn't even close.
Still, kudos for the inventor for trying compared to playing xbox or going out and having a social life or something.
1. Re:Nerd creates solution in search of a problem... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-13 07:23 · Score: 2
  
  Well, what has accelerometer data to do with quantity of alcohol? I've happened to dance with my glass, does that count as "drinking fast"? It's stupid, no matter how you look at it. Sometimes you let somebody else drink, or you drink stuff with different alcohol grading. It's so stupid you can't be a programer if you can't think of even at least one common case which makes the device useless. Yet this guy is in MIT and makes hardware. I can see how the robot rebellion will happen now... due to fucking, stupid, humans.
2. Re:Nerd creates solution in search of a problem... by Amorymeltzer · 2013-01-13 07:40 · Score: 2
  
  this isn't it and isn't even close.
  For under two months of work, it sure as shit is a step in the right direction. Accelerometer isn't perfect but it's a good way of getting around the "constantly sampling your drink" problem that provides a good estimate. It's cool, he was creative, we need more of this.
  
  --
  I live in constant fear of the Coming of the Red Spiders.
3. Re:Nerd creates solution in search of a problem... by arth1 · 2013-01-13 08:56 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  How about you say, the cubes are not for every conceivable situation. But only for drinking beer out of a mug; fairly consistent levels of alcohol between beers. No straws.
  Who the hell drinks beer from a mug out of a straw?
  Who the hell drinks beer with ice cubes?
4. Re:Nerd creates solution in search of a problem... by JonySuede · 2013-01-13 11:49 · Score: 2
  
  Sir, I propose the "unit" is already useless.
  says 7-Vodka ;)
  
  --
  Jehovah be praised, Oracle was not selected
A better way to tell when you're too drunk by theRunicBard · 2013-01-13 07:08 · Score: 2

When you do drink them.
I don't need ice cubes! by dkleinsc · 2013-01-13 07:08 · Score: 4, Insightful

As Dean Martin once explained, you're not drunk if you can lie on the floor without hanging on for dear life. That seems like a good test to me.

--
I am officially gone from /. Long live http://www.soylentnews.com/
1. Re:I don't need ice cubes! by FatLittleMonkey · 2013-01-13 10:04 · Score: 2
  
  On the other hand, if your ice cubes are sending you text messages, one way or another it's time to call it a night.
  
  --
  Science is all about firing a drunk pig out of a cannon just to see what happens.
Not going to work by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-13 07:09 · Score: 5, Insightful

People already have lots of warnings that they have too much to drink. First, if you drink six drinks in one bar, you probably had too much. If you are slurring your words, you probably had to much. If your friends say you had too much, you probably had too much. These smart ice-cubes will not help because it is a problem of impaired judgement, not a problem of impaired measuring ability. After a few drinks I bet most people will just put the cubes in their pocket and ignore them.
1. Re:Not going to work by 93+Escort+Wagon · 2013-01-13 07:44 · Score: 5, Interesting
  
  I had the exact opposite thought - I could see people buying these and having competitions for who could get their cubes to turn red the fastest.
  For the inventor's intended purpose, though, I can't see a market nor much practical utility. Drinking too much isn't usually due to ignorance. People generally know they're drinking too much - it's either an intentional choice or behavior being driven by addiction.
  
  --
  #DeleteChrome
2. Re:Not going to work by vlm · 2013-01-13 07:44 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  First of all people are looking at this negatively. Given 3 women roughly all of the same 1-10 scale, you try to pick up the drunk one by finding the one with flashing red alert ice cubes first. Or going the other way, an ugly woman can find a cute guy with the highest intensity beer googles by looking for the ice cubes flashing red alert. Lastly college students are going to use "alerting ice cubes" for drinking games, not a preventative measure, like whom ever's ice cubes flash red first, wins!
  Secondly, if you're feeling sober-ish and drinking at a bar and then suddenly pass out and wake up in some weirdo's bed or minus one kidney, the problem is not booze and the solution is not wiimotes in icecubes, the problem is someone paid the bartender to slip a pill in ur drink. I was hoping for an embedded EtOH sensor and/or a whole "GC on a chip" sensor unit, not a lame accelerometer.
  
  --
  "Science flies us to the moon. Religion flies us into buildings." - Victor Stenger
3. Re:Not going to work by arth1 · 2013-01-13 09:20 · Score: 2
  
  First of all people are looking at this negatively. Given 3 women roughly all of the same 1-10 scale, you try to pick up the drunk one by finding the one with flashing red alert ice cubes first. Or going the other way, an ugly woman can find a cute guy with the highest intensity beer googles by looking for the ice cubes flashing red alert.
  The first one seems plausible. The second one doesn't. The guys with flashing red cubes are least likely to get it up.
4. Re:Not going to work by miroku000 · 2013-01-13 11:17 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  People already have lots of warnings that they have too much to drink. First, if you drink six drinks in one bar, you probably had too much. If you are slurring your words, you probably had to much. If your friends say you had too much, you probably had too much. These smart ice-cubes will not help because it is a problem of impaired judgement, not a problem of impaired measuring ability. After a few drinks I bet most people will just put the cubes in their pocket and ignore them.
  This will let people know which girls are the drunkest. I wonder if that is a bug or a feature...
Or, you could not drink yourself into Oblivion by CodeheadUK · 2013-01-13 07:10 · Score: 5, Insightful

Seriously, is it that hard to drink and have a good time without pouring crap down your neck till you're shitfaced, grand slam the bed and wake up next to something that needs to be kept wet until it can be rolled back into the ocean?
Spend hours building a smart ice cube, or thinking, "Hmm the room is spinning, I feel a bit grim and that -2 over there is looking like a 10, I'll ease up a bit". Which is the 'Smart' idea?
1. Re:Or, you could not drink yourself into Oblivion by jimshatt · 2013-01-13 07:22 · Score: 2
  
  The funniest is when you see yourself in the mirror (after taking a piss or something) and you say to yourself "Am I drunk?". The pinnacle of a rethorical question.
  
  grand slam the bed and wake up next to something that needs to be kept wet until it can be rolled back into the ocean
  The little mermaid?
  
  But seriously, there's obviously a market for such a device, since there are a lot of people that don't intend to drink too much, but still do because they don't know when to stop, or the drunkness comes very sudden, or just need some exterior motivation. This just isn't it, because it only works when you put those same cubes into the same type of drink every time. And for beers this is just plain stupid.
2. Re:Or, you could not drink yourself into Oblivion by vlm · 2013-01-13 07:47 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  The funniest is when you see yourself in the mirror (after taking a piss
  Naw the funniest is when you're looking at a mirror after taking a piss and you suddenly realize you're not in a bathroom. You probably don't want to go into a bar/club where that won't get you thrown out.
  
  --
  "Science flies us to the moon. Religion flies us into buildings." - Victor Stenger
Doubt it works by Odonian · 2013-01-13 07:14 · Score: 2

Seems like if you are unable to monitor/regulate your drinking, you are probably also unable to get your act together enough to use smart ice cubes.
1. Re:Doubt it works by larry+bagina · 2013-01-13 07:48 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  I tried them and it works. Halfway through my first drink, the bartender saw them, dragged me outside, and beat the shit out of me. I had to go to the hospital, but at least it wasn't due to alcohol poisoning!
  
  --
  Do you even lift?
  These aren't the 'roids you're looking for.
So, when the ice cubes talk to you... by Chris+Mattern · 2013-01-13 07:22 · Score: 5, Funny

...you've had enough. I don't think this is exactly news.
What is enough? by Hentes · 2013-01-13 07:26 · Score: 2

I find that the same amount of alcohol has very different effect in different times. Sometimes two beers are enough, other times I simply can't get drunk.
Makes sense by drankr · 2013-01-13 07:28 · Score: 2

People who dilute good alcohol with water deserve to have ice cubes bitch about their drinking.
Re:What happens ... by Phelony · 2013-01-13 07:28 · Score: 2

Let me guess, you're an attorney in California?
Re:What happens ... by Eightbitgnosis · 2013-01-13 07:29 · Score: 2

Yes we can get over it, but only in the same way we might get over the "We can't dance in the middle of the busy freeway if there's a chance we might get hit" mentality.

Both choices lead to messy results
Re:You know what's going to derease its effectiven by Thiez · 2013-01-13 07:29 · Score: 2

If the cubes count the number of sips, how much must you drink for the number to overflow and the lights to turn green again? Challenge accepted, anyone?
Your solving the wrong problem by Osgeld · 2013-01-13 07:30 · Score: 5, Insightful

What this summary misses is that the blackout sent the dude to the hospital, and not even 3 weeks later he is drinking it up at a party again. Thats a problem blinky ice cubes wont solve
http://hackaday.com/2013/01/09/led-ice-cubes-prevent-alcohol-induced-blackouts/
Wouldn't work for me by willoughby · 2013-01-13 07:31 · Score: 2

I drink whisky neat.
Smart ice cubes? by Georules · 2013-01-13 07:44 · Score: 4, Insightful

How about YOU be smart? Be aware of your own alcohol tolerances.
Re:What happens ... by backslashdot · 2013-01-13 07:48 · Score: 5, Insightful

Maybe they should have designed these features into the cup rather than something that drops in the alcohol. THe cup can probably do more sensory related stuff.
Re:What happens ... by FatdogHaiku · 2013-01-13 07:49 · Score: 4, Funny

When it comes to drinking there ARE all sorts of excuses!
My favorite was always:
"I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy."

--
You have the right to remain sentient. If you give up the right to remain sentient, you will be elected to public office
Re:What happens ... by dogsbreath · 2013-01-13 07:55 · Score: 2

Sure but you will have to emigrate from litigation happy US. [JOKE not TROLL]
Seriously, consumer safety and potential litigation issues should always be part of an assessment before product release. It is part of what makes it costly to bring new products to market.
In the best case lawsuits are a form of extreme market feedback that the product was not a good idea/implementation.
You have had enough. by bartoku · 2013-01-13 08:02 · Score: 2

You have had enough alcohol when ice cubes start telling you things.
Re:Impractical and pointless by Jmc23 · 2013-01-13 08:05 · Score: 2

Personally, for my use, I think it's useless. However there exists a vast majority of individuals who cannot accurately assess their intelligence, skills, talents, etc... let alone their alcohol consumption.
The logistics don't make sense for a bar, but who said they would? The clearly clueless sometimes can tell that they're clueless. These people would buy their own and have it calibrated to their sips and their individual consumption limits. Simple. I really can't understand why people constantly say something is useless by extrapolating it out into something that is clearly useless.

--
Don't complain about syntax, grammar, or spelling. There is no.hell like input on android.
Re:What happens ... by ZombieThoughts · 2013-01-13 08:10 · Score: 2

"There's nothing like a depressant to chase the blues away."
--Homer J. Simpson
Re:But drinks vary too much in strength by mysidia · 2013-01-13 08:20 · Score: 2

Yeah... a better idea is a 'smart glass' that knows how much is left in it, via IR/liquid/weight sensors, recognizes your fingerprints when you pick up the glass, and wireless transmits the data about how much sipped, to a computer maintained by the bar, that keeps track of each customer's rate of consumption.
When you're drinking too fast, the bar computer makes your glass glow red. And if it gets really extreme, the bartender receives an alert to call your friends.
So anyways, you can't swallow the glass.
The Wife by dohzer · 2013-01-13 09:54 · Score: 5, Funny

Finally an automated version of my wife at parties: cold and keeping track of my drinking.
Re:What happens ... by M.+Baranczak · 2013-01-13 10:52 · Score: 5, Funny

"Moderate drinking is harmless, even in large quantities." - Antoni Slonimski
Re:What happens ... by mikael · 2013-01-13 11:06 · Score: 2

Or embed them at the base of the glass so it doesn't make cleaning any harder. I thought of having a glass with the ice cubes fixed in place, but that would be impossible to clean.

--
Vintage computer adverts: http://www.vintageadbrowser.com/computers-and-software-ads
Re:What happens ... by Xiaran · 2013-01-13 21:54 · Score: 2

To alcohol! The cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems. -- Homer J Simpson.