For a majority of us, mornings just aren’t complete without your daily cup ‘o joe. Now, what if your instant coffee literally woke you up? Earlier this year, Nestlé teamed with Mexcio City-based agency Publicis Mexico and Los Angeles studio NOTlabs to debut the Alarm Cap — a limited-edition, 3D-printed lid powered by an [Atmel based] Arduino.
The unique design is comprised of seven distinct alarm sounds, including a bird song, that are played in tandem with a gently pulsing light. To switch off the alarm, the user opens the lid and is greeted with the invigorating smell of Nescafé coffee.
Paying homage to the Maker community, the 200 limited edition lids were produced using 3D printing technology, with parts of the caps produced on the AVR equipped MakerBot Replicator.
While it is unlikely that we’ll see this produced on a mass scale, it’s interesting nevertheless. Moreover, it validates the fact that the Maker Movement has officially gone mainstream with some of the world’s largest corporations jumping onboard. Perhaps, next Nescafé will explore the Internet of (Coffee) Things!
Watch the Alarm Cap in action below!
Atmel | Bits & Pieces 