IllumiMug: revealing imperceptible characteristics of drinks

Abstract

Drinking is vital, but certain drinks can also harm human health and well-being. In this paper, we present IllumiMug, a concept for a content-aware, interactive cup. The IllumiMug concept is able to measure the temperature and the level of a liquid in a cup and can represent helpful information through ambient light. We discuss some initial design thoughts and illustrate the potential benefits of IllumiMug in two scenarios, i.e., the preparation of proper alcoholic drinks, where the alcohol concentration is measured and shown, and the brewing of safe tea, where the drink's temperature is indicated.