The Connection Glass facilitates and enhances meeting compatible people

“As far as cost goes, the cost of manufacture depends on whether or not the product stays true to the original design and how much it changes in the initial product. Currently, many of the features are similar to those in cell phones.

“When this work was done, it was a conceptual student project, and I really didn't consider the cost of manufacture when designing it – since then, I’ve thought a lot more about it.

“The glass would either be bar glass or shatter-proof Lexan. The technology aspect of it I imagined would be a film that could be applied to each glass. If the glass breaks, the film could be taken off and placed on a new glass. The battery and chip fits into the base.

“For charging the glasses are placed a drying rack that has induction chargers similar to those used in electric toothbrush chargers. There’s a wireless server to connect the glasses with multiple points of sale, and a website and interface developed to manage people's profiles and allow them to enter content remotely (before they arrive).” It’s quite possible then, that in the future you might be thinking about updating your profile or message before you go to a social event , along with what you might wear.

Just what it might cost to outfit a bar was a difficult question for Priscilla given that she hasn’t yet finalised the format for the prototype. “I'd could cost anywhere between US$12,000 and US$50,000 for a bar to invest in this system in a commercial form with volume production and a significant roll-out, and depending on what functionality we include and how elegantly we design it it could double or halve,” she laughs.

“What it will offer though, is a competitive advantage in the meeting marketplace, at the same time as improving a venue’s POS system, optimizing staff operations, increasing and monitoring drink sales and tips, and ensuring every drink gets paid for.

“I think the draw of such an innovative concept would bring new clientele such as business and social networking groups who want to operate more efficiently. I think the lure of a better way of meeting people would make the investment worthwhile.”

Priscilla is seeking partners who can help her bring the product to market.