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ePint ‘can call drinkers a cab when they’ve hit their limit’
A ‘smart’ beer mug invented by a US tech start-up promises to monitor users’ drinking and even call them a cab when they’ve had enough.
The ePint promises to alert drinkers when they have reached their preset drinking limit (Photo: Xtreme Tech)
Created by Los Angeles-based Xtreme Tech and being funded via a Kickstarter campaign, the ePint contains sensors, LEDs and a Bluetooth chip that can be linked to a mobile phone.
The gadget lights up when it is empty, keeps track of the number of beers its user has drunk and, through a connection to the user’s phone, can even be set to call a taxi when a pre-set drinking limit has been reached.
Described by Xtreme Tech as “Vegas in a cup”, the ePint can be set to light up when the user’s sports team has scored or be used to play drinking games by linking up with other ePints, the Daily Mail reported.
The device is made of durable polycarbonate material, the company said, and contains a Bluetooth transceiver in its base, allows users to connect to their smartphone or tablet.
The ePint also contains a weight sensor to track how much liquid it is holding, accelerometers which can track motion and velocity, and LEDs that flash and change colour. It also features a bottle opener.
Using information from an associated ePint app, the ePint can be made to light up every time a sports team scores, even displaying the team’s colours.
Users can also programme their own commands using the open programming interface so the cup can link to a variety of other applications, including taxi apps.
A promotional video for the product said: “The ePint is hospitable enough to know when you need a refill and responsible enough to contact a cab when the party’s over.
“It’s no longer just for drinks. The ePint is your friend and you partner in crime.”
The invention is available to pre-order on Kickstarter for $30 (£20). It is expected to be ready for delivery in April 2016, providing the company raises its funding target of $50,000 (£33,100). So far it has raised $5,300 (£3,490).