Gadgets I would like to exist

[simont]

I've occasionally thought it would be nice to have a coffee mug with a built-in heater, so it keeps the coffee from getting completely cold. But this is an obviously impractical idea: heating costs serious energy, so you'd have to have a stand to supply the power, which is inconvenient; also there are probably some exciting failure modes.

This

Comments

[kilinrax]

Water level detectors are cheap. Definitely viable.

[isihac]

My M-i-L has one that sits on the side of the cup to measure the water level and beeps. Very funky.

http://www.rnib.org.uk/shop/Pages/ProductDetails.aspx?category=utensils&productID=DK12701

[andrewducker]

Surely a USB-powered device would be ideal for this, especially as you'd also be able to set your preferred temperature using a handy program on the PC!

[simont]

I don't think I want the mug tethered to my computer, really. By all means have it plug into USB to reprogram and/or recharge, but while it's in operation it ought to just attach round the outside of the mug with elastic or some such and not have a trailing cable.

[pjc50]

Anyone remember Global Hypercolour and their heat-sensitive items? You can certainly do this trivially with a visual alert, but if you want an audible one I guess it means ciruitry, which has to be waterproofed so you can wash the mug.

Heating could easily be done inductively: put a single turn coil or something in the bottom of the mug and sit it on a coil mat.

[simont]

Washing the mug: I was thinking more in terms of a device attaching round the outside of the mug by elastic or some such, so you can take it off once you've finished your coffee (and attach it to your next mug).

[isihac]

Yeah, my first thought was the USB hotplate.

http://www.iwantoneofthose.com/usb-cup-warmer/index.html

[gerald_duck]

Or, if that's not sufficiently heavy duty, a travel mug immersion heater.

[ext_407995]

Oh, I know this one. They already invented a handy portable heat-generating device; you can get them in all shapes and sizes, they called them 'candles'.

Unless you wanted something with a button. Must be a button. Don't understand this whole button thing. The world's gone mad just pushing little buttons...

S.

[simont]

Congratulations on finding the ugliest OpenID in the world!