The glassies at my local are almost too conscientious for their own good. The number of times I've turned my back on an almost-finished schooner, only to turn back and find it disappearing at the top of a stack of dirty glasses, well... *sigh*.
The DregScale is a coaster-sized digital scale, with a bright red led display and absorbent facing. Simply 'zero' it with an empty glass, place your tasty beverage on it as you would a standard coaster, and it fills your beverage of choice with bright red light. The overzealous glassy knows that while the glass shines red, you've still got a mouthful left.
When you've finished your drink (and I mean FINISHED, with not a drop left to swill the vile nicotine taste from your mouth), the display turns green, and your friendly local pub employee knows it's time to collect.-- m_Al_com, Aug 05 2006 I've had an entire shot of (rather expensive) whiskey in a tumbler stolen from my immediate vicinity without my knowledge in a pub, because it looked like the discarded dregs of a Southern Comfort and lemonade, which made me extremely angry as the house would not replace it and for which I never forgave that frightened Polish barmaid.
This doesn't even have to be automated, coasters with LEDs would do the trick, though that's not very bakery.-- theleopard, Jan 24 2007 You're right, of course, [theleopard]. LEDs, or even a double-sided coaster, one side red, one side green, would do the trick.
But, this being the HB, if I took out the automation, I'd have to add hamster-power or dancing mice or somesuch.
As for the whiskey: I feel your pain.-- m_Al_com, Jan 24 2007 random, halfbakery