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Mystical Laser Candle Lighter

 Sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.
  (+6)
(+6) 		  [vote for,
against]

This device would consist of an AI trained to keep track of candles and wicks in the room via edge tracing.* (One would have to display each candle from various angles) It would also track hand gestures. There would also be a lightweight computer, a Kinect, and a fairly small and powerful laser. When the correct gesture is performed over a candle the laser would fire at the wick, lighting it.

*This technology is quite common and has been in use for years. Please don't call "magic"

EDIT: also what [Vernon] said.

—Voice, Dec 21 2011

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       Elegant and nifty. [+]
—gisho, Dec 21 2011
   

       Perhaps multiple lasers could converge on the wick, so as not to accidentally light parts of guests.
—pocmloc, Dec 21 2011
   

       Would also work on paraffin lamps with clear glass chimneys. [+]   

       Voice recognition would be good ...   

       <Obi-Wan>   

       <Hand gesture>   

       "You don't need to see his means of ignition ..."   

       <Candles in room light, seemingly spontaneously>   

       </Obi-Wan>
—8th of 7, Dec 21 2011
   

       Giles had just mastered the trick of balancing a grape-stem on the tip of his index finger when...
—MaxwellBuchanan, Dec 21 2011
   

       First point of order: [+]   

       That said, I wish to point out that A) the Kinect can only 'see' about 12' and B) that laser had better be tiny, quick, and spot-on accurate, or else the furniture, floors, pets, and people in the room will be playing backstop to your novelty candle lighter. Keep the burn ointment handy.
—Alterother, Dec 21 2011
   

       [+] Although I'd rather \\When the correct gesture is performed over a candle, the laser would fire at the wick of an adjacent candle, lighting it\\ and producing a priceless WTF moment for your dinner guest.
—mouseposture, Dec 21 2011
   

       // Perhaps multiple lasers could converge on the wick, so as not to accidentally light parts of guests. //   

       Yes, indeed.   

       And to reduce chances of something being between the wick and the sole laser. And to make it less obvious that a laser is being used.
—baconbrain, Dec 22 2011
   

       You neglected to indicate that the laser should use an infrared frequency, so the beam would be entirely invisible when it does its thing.
—Vernon, Dec 23 2011
   


 

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