# Vessyl's smart cup will be able to tell the difference between Coca-Cola and Pepsi when released in **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 15, 2014, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vessyls-smart-cup-will-be-able-to-tell-the-difference-between-coca-cola-and-pepsi-when-released-in/690856 "2014-06-15T21:56:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2014, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vessyls-smart-cup-will-be-able-to-tell-the-difference-between-coca-cola-and-pepsi-when-released-in/690856/21 "2014-06-16T22:20:34Z")
> [@dzeiger](#): > > Eh, I think some of you may be overestimating people’s ability to judge what they are consuming on a daily basis. > > I mean, didn’t they find that once snack makers went to that “100-calorie pack” idea that consumption actually went up, because people ended up eating more of those lower-calorie options? > > I can absolutely see how someone could simply have blind spots for, say, their glass of orange juice in the morning or whatever. > > Now, I do tend to agree that their price point seems a bit high, but an overall trend to better identify what/how much we eat (as opposed to what we think we’re eating) can end up with surprising results. The alcohol reader is also useful. Yes, it is theoretically possible to figure out how much alcohol is in a drink by reading the labels. But now let’s check in on the real world. Somebody hands you a frozen margarita. Are you going to measure its weight and volume, figure out the recipe for how it was made, convert the ingredients into percentages, check the labels to find out what percentage of every ingredient was alcohol, and then multiply and add all the numbers? I think a lot of people would find it easier to push a little button on the side of their glass and be told “this drink contains 32 grams of alcohol.” ---
**Author:** ![DataX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DataX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DataX)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2014, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vessyls-smart-cup-will-be-able-to-tell-the-difference-between-coca-cola-and-pepsi-when-released-in/690856/22 "2014-06-16T22:51:14Z")
I’d like to point out that based on what the company has claimed so far - this device doesn’t simply figure out that the cup holds Pepsi - and then gives the nutrition info on it by lookup. Yes it is clear it has an impressive database (one article claimed it was able to identify any of I think about 10-12 off the shelve items in it) - but also any home brewed smoothie or such. It if could do such a thing - I will be very impressed. I have my doubts. This is an astonishing claim to be able to perform. It does claim it can’t differentiate between different brands of apple juice - as they are too similar. How useful it is? I love how whenever something cool like this comes out - everyone claims it isn’t useful. So what - don’t want it - don’t buy it. It isn’t that “useful” as in 99% or people will never buy one. Who cares - it is cool as shit. I don’t think they will reach the point of having people walking around using their vessyls as intentded, but this is awesome technology if true. Presumably (if true again) you could smoothie up almost anything and figure out with some dilution built in at least something about what is inside. So far I haven’t seen any reports on the accuracy of homemade beverages - I mean the device isn’t magic. It has to be using some sensors to determine something. How accurate are they? I’m tempted to put in a preorder for one. I don’t believe it is real - there has to be some catch, but am happy to be proven wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Mithras](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mithras](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mithras)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2014, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vessyls-smart-cup-will-be-able-to-tell-the-difference-between-coca-cola-and-pepsi-when-released-in/690856/23 "2014-06-16T23:20:20Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > The alcohol reader is also useful. > > Yes, it is theoretically possible to figure out how much alcohol is in a drink by reading the labels. > > But now let’s check in on the real world. Somebody hands you a frozen margarita. Are you going to measure its weight and volume, figure out the recipe for how it was made, convert the ingredients into percentages, check the labels to find out what percentage of every ingredient was alcohol, and then multiply and add all the numbers? I think a lot of people would find it easier to push a little button on the side of their glass and be told “this drink contains 32 grams of alcohol.” As I said above, I don’t believe there’s a way to determine alcohol content from a quick scan, so I don’t believe what you’re picturing this doing is possible. I defer to people with more knowledge of chemistry and electronics than I, but the more I think about this thing the less I expect from it when it’s finally released. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vessyls-smart-cup-will-be-able-to-tell-the-difference-between-coca-cola-and-pepsi-when-released-in/690856/24 "2014-06-17T00:10:54Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Yes, it is theoretically possible to figure out how much alcohol is in a drink by reading the labels. > > But now let’s check in on the real world. Somebody hands you a frozen margarita. Yeah, now let’s check in on the real world. You’re at a gathering, and somebody hands you a frozen margarita. You turn and pour it into your stainless steel computer mug, and start checking your phone for the content and alcohol readout. And everyone else in the room slowly backs away. Or you could do it at a bar. That would really mark you as one of the cool kids. It would be even better if you were wearing Google Glass at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vessyls-smart-cup-will-be-able-to-tell-the-difference-between-coca-cola-and-pepsi-when-released-in/690856/25 "2014-06-17T01:27:33Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > My drinks already have something that gives me this information. It’s called a label. A label? Awesome! I’ll give you $50 for one of those! > [@Diceman](#): > > Right next to the hot dog toaster. A hot dog toaster? I’ll give you $95 for one of those! $199 if you can integrate it with my iPhone! ---
**Author:** ![Flywheel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Flywheel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flywheel)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vessyls-smart-cup-will-be-able-to-tell-the-difference-between-coca-cola-and-pepsi-when-released-in/690856/26 "2014-06-17T02:33:57Z")
Call me back when it can tell the difference between butter and I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter. ---
**Author:** ![DataX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DataX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DataX)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vessyls-smart-cup-will-be-able-to-tell-the-difference-between-coca-cola-and-pepsi-when-released-in/690856/27 "2014-06-17T03:23:57Z")
> [@Flywheel](#): > > Call me back when it can tell the difference between butter and I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter. Well if you belive what they say: 1. That it can analyse anything you can drink - and specifically mentions very hot coffee (saying that anything that couldn’t measure something at the temperature you’d drink it at wouldn’t be useful) 2. It can measure the fat/calorie/protien content of a beverage And knowing that butter melts at a much lower temperature than safely drinkable hot coffee + that the fat conent of I can’t believe it’s not butter & actual butter are markedly different You should easily be able to tell the difference between the two if they are telling the truth 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vessyls-smart-cup-will-be-able-to-tell-the-difference-between-coca-cola-and-pepsi-when-released-in/690856/28 "2014-06-17T04:24:20Z")
> [@Mithras](#): > > As I said above, I don’t believe there’s a way to determine alcohol content from a quick scan, so I don’t believe what you’re picturing this doing is possible. I defer to people with more knowledge of chemistry and electronics than I, but the more I think about this thing the less I expect from it when it’s finally released. It wasn’t clear. The article says it could detect alcohol but didn’t explicitly state it could measure the amount. But I figure if they can measure the amount of calories in a drink (which is mentioned) then measuring the amount of alcohol is on the horizon. Like questions about the cost, questions about the specific features are a separate issue from the discussion of whether those features are useful. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vessyls-smart-cup-will-be-able-to-tell-the-difference-between-coca-cola-and-pepsi-when-released-in/690856/29 "2014-06-17T04:26:09Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Or you could do it at a bar. That would really mark you as one of the cool kids. It would be even better if you were wearing Google Glass at the same time. If you’re worried about whether or not you’re cool, you’re not. ---
**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vessyls-smart-cup-will-be-able-to-tell-the-difference-between-coca-cola-and-pepsi-when-released-in/690856/30 "2014-06-17T04:31:11Z")
Hi it’s your insurance agent. We see you’ve drunk more than the Nationally Recommended Average for soda so we are raising your insurance premiums 300%/or disallowing any future claims. Have a great day?" ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vessyls-smart-cup-will-be-able-to-tell-the-difference-between-coca-cola-and-pepsi-when-released-in/690856/31 "2014-06-17T06:14:39Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > If you’re worried about whether or not you’re cool, you’re not. I’m not worried. But that’s precisely why i think this product is stupid. ---
**Author:** ![HelloKindWorld](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e79b87/32.png) [@HelloKindWorld](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelloKindWorld)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vessyls-smart-cup-will-be-able-to-tell-the-difference-between-coca-cola-and-pepsi-when-released-in/690856/32 "2014-06-17T06:35:11Z")
I’d totally buy one of these and go everywhere pouring random crap into it just to see what it said. But that’s most likely just because I’m a strange person. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vessyls-smart-cup-will-be-able-to-tell-the-difference-between-coca-cola-and-pepsi-when-released-in/690856/33 "2014-06-17T14:31:16Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > My drinks already have something that gives me this information. It’s called a label. Yes, but if I buy coffee and pour ‘some’ milk into it, how much fat content did it actually get? An actual fat content report may help me make better decisions about my diet. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vessyls-smart-cup-will-be-able-to-tell-the-difference-between-coca-cola-and-pepsi-when-released-in/690856/34 "2014-06-17T15:33:58Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > Yes, but if I buy coffee and pour ‘some’ milk into it, how much fat content did it actually get? An actual fat content report may help me make better decisions about my diet. I, too, impatiently await the wonders of measuring cup technology. Was that two or three fluid ounces? Currently, there is no way to tell. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vessyls-smart-cup-will-be-able-to-tell-the-difference-between-coca-cola-and-pepsi-when-released-in/690856/35 "2014-06-17T15:42:20Z")
I’m not in my house when I buy coffee. Do you want me to carry around measuring cups with me everywhere I go? It is a specialty product for those who want to track their intake. I don’t see why you need to mock it. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vessyls-smart-cup-will-be-able-to-tell-the-difference-between-coca-cola-and-pepsi-when-released-in/690856/36 "2014-06-17T15:46:07Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > Yes, but if I buy coffee and pour ‘some’ milk into it, how much fat content did it actually get? An actual fat content report may help me make better decisions about my diet. If your diet is so strict, or so unhealthy, or whatever, that you need the EXACT fat content of the dollop of milk that you pour into your coffee, then your problems probably are too big to be solved by a computerized mug. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vessyls-smart-cup-will-be-able-to-tell-the-difference-between-coca-cola-and-pepsi-when-released-in/690856/37 "2014-06-17T15:48:22Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > Do you want me to carry around measuring cups with me everywhere I go? You apparently want to carry an electric one everywhere you go. That’s it! My billion dollar idea! Teaspoons that connect to facebook! ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vessyls-smart-cup-will-be-able-to-tell-the-difference-between-coca-cola-and-pepsi-when-released-in/690856/38 "2014-06-17T15:55:00Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > If your diet is so strict, or so unhealthy, or whatever, that you need the EXACT fat content of the dollop of milk that you pour into your coffee, then your problems probably are too big to be solved by a computerized mug. I don’t get why you’re so antagonistic about this product. Much more stupid gadgets have sold extremely well and made their creators very wealthy. The guys who invented and are marketing this know full well that the smart cup isn’t ever going to be a necessity or save lives. They think, and I wouldn’t bet against it, that there will be a big market for it. Firstly, it will sell to fad dieters for people trying to lose weight and extreme exercisers. Secondly, like the Apple Ap Store, other people will come up with uses for the tech that hasn’t occurred to anyone yet. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vessyls-smart-cup-will-be-able-to-tell-the-difference-between-coca-cola-and-pepsi-when-released-in/690856/39 "2014-06-17T16:02:42Z")
You keep mistaking me. I’m not really mocking the product. The technology, and the implementation of it, seem quite impressive, at least if the claims of the maker turn turn out to be true. I’m mocking anyone who would buy one. Edit: Amend that to: I’m mocking anyone who would buy one without some medical need to strictly monitor the intake of particular types of nutrients, fats, or whatever. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vessyls-smart-cup-will-be-able-to-tell-the-difference-between-coca-cola-and-pepsi-when-released-in/690856/40 "2014-06-17T16:04:42Z")
Even if this particular product isn’t very useful, it seems to me that the technology behind it could have many medical uses. Just off the top of my head, a device that can measure the sugar content of a soft drink should also be able to measure the sugar content of a diabetic’s blood, for instance. Don’t current testers rely on disposable test strips? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vessyls-smart-cup-will-be-able-to-tell-the-difference-between-coca-cola-and-pepsi-when-released-in/690856.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vessyls-smart-cup-will-be-able-to-tell-the-difference-between-coca-cola-and-pepsi-when-released-in/690856.md?page=3)