Striking up a conversation with the opposite sex in clubs is tough and sometimes awkward and next to impossible if you’re shy or timid. However a new device may turn the tide in the ever challenging ‘one-liner’ atmosphere with the introduction of a new ‘smart bar’ surface in conjunction with talkative coasters. Tom Bartindale and Jack Weeden from Newcastle University’s Culture Lab have designed the new beer mat system that uses a camera to track the coaters around the bars surface. Customers ‘tap’ the coasters to activate them and turn pink for women and blue for men. When in use, the mats display scrolling pre-programmed messages that are used as an ice-breaker to get the attention of the person sitting next to you. “The idea is that the mats gain a personality when placed on the bar - some are funny, some are naughty, some are scared of other mats and some are out to talk to everyone, said Tom, who came up with the idea while sitting in a bar in Germany. “This is a twist on meeting new people in a public space. I think most of us feel quite self-conscious and uncomfortable about starting a conversation with a stranger so what our mat does is make that first move and also provides a talking point.” No longer are we going to be responsible for that ‘tacky’ one-liner that inevitably goes horribly wrong!
Eavesdropper