A few classmates and I participated in MakeMIT, a hardware hackathon. We were inspired by a teammates grandfather who lived alone and, while medically allowed to consume alcohol, often overdid it. We wanted a solution to allow moderated alcohol consumption without constant monitoring by a person. So, we built an internet connected bottle that can keep track of individuals pouring drinks and in turn, the number of drinks they likely had.

This technology could be useful in many situations. It could keep people safe by preventing overdrinking if the liquid in the bottle is alcohol. You could also be a stingy friend and charge party attendees for drinks. Alternatively, bars could use them as a way to audit their usage. Finally, one parent suggested that it could allow regulated access to sweet drinks like juices and sodas to children without having to have a parent as a middleman.

Users interacted with Buzeme through a webapp, adding bottles to a shared group and allowing group members to request that the bottle be opened. In the base of the Buzeme bottle, an internet connected Arduino monitored a webpage for requests to open. When it recieved a request, it actuated a servo in the neck of the bottle which, when closed, pinched a flexible diaphram.

In the future, a real valve could be used and the electronics could be fit into a fabric koozie that would hold a bottle. Pressure sensors can be added to the base to better monitor the quantity of liquid poured. An automatic charging system could be implemented using a popular peer-to-peer payment system like Venmo.