Smart Coaster – Backerjack

Chill Lizard watches over cans chilling in the freezer, tells you when they’re ready

If it is indeed true that global warming is, in part, caused by consuming warm beer, then Chill Lizard seems to have a most noble cause. The Chill Lizard band gets attached to one’s beverage of choice, set for one’s desired temperature, and the coaster buzzes when the beverage has hit the ideal cool spot, averting explosive freezer messes. The wireless sensor in the band is how the coaster receives the alert, similar to a system used in various restaurants for when a table is ready for waiting customers. The product automatically defaults to a temperature of 36 degrees and can be adjusted up or down. It will go as low as 29 degrees for frozen treats.

Chill Lizard is apparently designed with an American marketplace in mind since there doesn’t seem to be a Celsius indicator available. Provided the wireless connection will work from inside the freezer, this product is great for those who can’t plan ahead enough to put beverages in the fridge. This campaign seeks to raise $30,000 by December 30, 2014. For $30, backers get one product and an expected delivery of February 2015.

Dehydration is a common problem among adults. No one ever drinks the recommended amount of water each day either due to lack of time or fear of bloating. Riding on the trend of every product imaginable smartening up, the Coaster Talk is a smart coaster. When a glass is placed upon it, it measures your intake of water using an accompanying app. Coaster Talk isn’t only for adults, however, it also works well for babies. By measuring a baby’s milk intake, parents can tell when to feed them and prevent overfeeding them. Coaster Talk will cost backers a $36 AUD (~$32 USD) donation for delivery by January 2015. This product is looking to raise $6,000 AUD (~$5,300 USD).

The design of the Coaster Talk limits its potential. First of all, the idea that one would use the same coaster for every drink is slightly off base. Second of all, it would be difficult to track water intake all throughout the day if leaving the house is involved. Vessyl, a smart drink container, detects what you’re drinking, keeps track of calories, hydration and caffeine intake. It makes more sense because it’s easier to carry around a cup rather than a coaster and has a larger range of uses. If the Coaster Talk can evolve to include more kinds of drinks in its analyses then it may be able to contender with the Vessyl.