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Modern bottled beverages come in a plethora of flavors… cherry, vanilla, chocolate, lemon, lime, and turkey & gravy to name but a few. Most of those drinks are available in diet and regular versions, each of which may or may not have a caffeine-free variety. As if our teeth weren’t already cringing at the thought of rotting away in a brutal shower of carbonated high-fructose corn syrup, many companies are now multiplying our diabetes-inducing pleasure with zany flavor combinations. But recently the Innovation Team (exclamation point) at Ipifini has introduced their Programmable Liquid Container technology, a drink packaging concept which should make flavor fusions such as “black cherry vanilla” look downright pedestrian in comparison.
A Programmable Liquid Container looks much like an ordinary drink bottle, but it is filled with a simple “cola base,” and the circumference of its upper half is decorated with six colorful additive compartments. Each compartment might contain one of any number of possible substances, such as flavor syrups, vitamins, herbal supplements, caffeine, fragrances, etc… it is limited only by the cola distributors’ imaginations. The consumer can then press one or more of the buttons to create the desired combination of flavors and features.
The idea offers several advantages over conventional cola distribution. Using the Programmable Liquid Container , a beverage company could consolidate all variations of a cola into one bottle… for example, a Diet Coke base might have additives for lemon, lime, orange, cherry, vanilla, and caffeine. This would provide sixty-four possible combinations, only forty-eight of which are nasty. This technology also allows cola manufacturers to reduce the complexity of their production and supply systems, and it allows them to introduce new varieties with very little risk or effort.
The idea is extremely clever, though the execution might benefit from some refinement. It is a foregone conclusion that meddlesome persons will pre-push the flavor buttons on the bottles, which spells refreshment disaster for the unsuspecting. There is also the question of how to properly mix in the additives without shaking the bottle and precipitating an unwelcome geyser of flavorful fizz. And, to be quite frank, there’s something fundamentally disturbing about smashing blister-shaped nodules to cause colored syrups to ooze into one’s drink. But none of these flaws are insurmountable, and it is certain that if anyone can make it work, it’s the Innovation Team (exclamation point).
Ipifini has also developed variations on the bottle design to work with aluminum cans and juice packets, as well as non-beverage applications such as pigment additives on paint cans and— perhaps most promisingly— pre-measured medication additives on IV bags.
More info:
Ipifini’s product description (Adobe Acrobat file)
via Admit One
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They should just make regular Coke replace the flavor buttons with caffine buttons.
if 48 out of 64 combinations are nasty, and if someone is in the mood of experimenting, the article after the next one on improving luck would sure be necessary.
can i get the orange cherry vanilla coke with caffine and moriphine
It’d be great if you had a bunch of drunk friends and you took turns adding flavours at random, and gauging the reactions.
Surely the manufacturers could bring out a halloween special, where you can press the ‘blisters’ on the packaging to release somesort of ‘puss’ flavoured beverage or blood coloured cherry flavour, (with excessive E numbers to make it dark). I reckon an idea like this could take off in the US, imagine the possibilities of drinkable blister puss at Halloween! imense.
I want to thank you, BigPete. The phrase ‘drinkable blister puss’ is now burned forever into my memory. ;-p
It’s a good idea, but the execution is terrible. If the majority of combinations are “nasty” then many of the flavors will go unused on each bottle. Unused = wasted money. They should sell small pellets that you just drop in and they dissolve completely to add the flavor. This way, if you want regular cola, you’ve got it… if you want flavored, spend an extra ten cents for one of these pellets and flavor away. This also allows you to come up with as many flavors as you want instead of limiting each bottle to just six.
I’m not even going to mention the number of those blisters that will accidentally be pushed during shipment, dropping in a vending machine, or teenagers running loose in a supermarket.
Quote “As if our teeth weren’t already cringing at the thought of rotting away in a brutal shower of carbonated high-fructose corn syrup, many companies are now multiplying our diabetes-inducing pleasure with zany flavor combinations.”
I’m surprised that nobody picked up on this…when will some savvy lawyer take the soft drink companies to task for contributing to the health problems associated with diabetes and/or tooth decay as a result of ingesting soft drinks?
Landmark cases were brought against the tobacco companies…and won. They tried a similar approach with gun makers, but I don’t know how that ended or if it’s still going on. So, why not hold those responsible for our food supply to the same (high) standard? Did anyone ever see “Supersize me”?
Besides, were you aware that Coke is probably one of the best cleaning agents around? Must have something to do with its acidic nature. Cheers…Drink up!
another viewpoint said: “Quote “As if our teeth weren’t already cringing at the thought of rotting away in a brutal shower of carbonated high-fructose corn syrup, many companies are now multiplying our diabetes-inducing pleasure with zany flavor combinations.”
I’m surprised that nobody picked up on this…when will some savvy lawyer take the soft drink companies to task for contributing to the health problems associated with diabetes and/or tooth decay as a result of ingesting soft drinks?
Landmark cases were brought against the tobacco companies…and won. They tried a similar approach with gun makers, but I don’t know how that ended or if it’s still going on. So, why not hold those responsible for our food supply to the same (high) standard? Did anyone ever see “Supersize me”?
Besides, were you aware that Coke is probably one of the best cleaning agents around? Must have something to do with its acidic nature. Cheers…Drink up!”
The last thing America, or the world for that matter, is more idiotic lawsuits.
*needs
It reminds me of that pen with the four buttons…one for each color…that was always cool..I guess. The thing I like about this…maybe not the taste..but the idea of a company giving their consumers choice. As mentioned above, maybe a “drop in” version would be better, like tic-tacs for your drink, but the idea of capturing infinite consumer taste with one product is very very interesting…damn interesting that is for sure. It’s the Longtail at work..infinite product variations..
http://www.thelongtail.com/
MaddMan said: “The last thing America, or the world for that matter, is more idiotic lawsuits.”
Noooo, you missed the point. After reading about the ill effects of drinking alcohol, and after reading about the ill effects of smoking, and after reading about the ill effects of having unprotected sexual relations… I’ve decided to give up reading!
The point was…something so innocent causes bodily harm…in particular, when taken in excess. So why shouldn’t those persons suffering from diabetes get the same attention and benefit as those that suffered from smoking? Both involved conscious decisions by the users to ingest something that was later determined to be harmful to their health. A GOOD lawyer would find a way to persuade a judge and jury that soft drink companies knowingly produced and sold products that were harmful.
What is the one thing that causes the most deaths in this country every year, can be purchased over-the-counter and everyone has it in their homes? Aspirin…now think about that!
I would have hours of fun seeing if my friends would try combinations like orange cherry lemon coke if I paid them 50 cents…
another_viewpoint: I believe the sort of anti-soft-drink campaign you’re suggesting is already underway, at least in its early stages. In fact it’s not just soft drinks they’re going after, but basically anything sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup.
For an idea of what the soft-drink world would be like with such product choice, look only to children creating custom drinks out of the entire selection from the soda fountain. Mountain Dew, Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Orange…those are some excellent drinnks. Of course, I did that as a child as well and remember having to drink some really disgusting drinks that I’d concocted while smiling and saying that it was “really good, you should try it!”
Also, there is the Diet Black Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper, that’s like Cola Base + Dr. Pepper + Black Cherry + Vanilla (I guess there would need to be a regular and diet Cola Base).
Anybody else just want to drink the base? I dunno, I just have this urge.
Carcer said: “Anybody else just want to drink the base? I dunno, I just have this urge.”
That and drinking the additives alone…
I would like to commend me (yay) for mentioning the turkey flavoured pop in a previous post. I don’t get to commend me very often.:( I’m really glad I’m Canadian and we don’t do stupid lawsuits. Such as people excersising free choice and then whining about it.
MistaRaggy said: “I would have hours of fun seeing if my friends would try combinations like orange cherry lemon coke if I paid them 50 cents…”
dude, i would drink that right now for free
another viewpoint said: “What is the one thing that causes the most deaths in this country every year, can be purchased over-the-counter and everyone has it in their homes? Aspirin…now think about that!”
i would love to see your source on this because i SERIOUSLY doubt the validity of that statement
hahaha. has anyone viewed the Adobe Acrobat file? hilarious ideas
another viewpoint said: “MaddMan said: “The last thing America, or the world for that matter, is more idiotic lawsuits.”
Noooo, you missed the point. After reading about the ill effects of drinking alcohol, and after reading about the ill effects of smoking, and after reading about the ill effects of having unprotected sexual relations… I’ve decided to give up reading!
The point was…something so innocent causes bodily harm…in particular, when taken in excess. So why shouldn’t those persons suffering from diabetes get the same attention and benefit as those that suffered from smoking? Both involved conscious decisions by the users to ingest something that was later determined to be harmful to their health. A GOOD lawyer would find a way to persuade a judge and jury that soft drink companies knowingly produced and sold products that were harmful.
What is the one thing that causes the most deaths in this country every year, can be purchased over-the-counter and everyone has it in their homes? Aspirin…now think about that!”
coke isnt addictive…least i dont think.
i havent drank coke in about…15 years because it makes u fat, like a plump american. fatties
I would like to order some cancer in 1 puss bubble pusher thing, crack water, orange xtasy, and seman. yay 10% less breast cancer.
another viewpoint said:
What is the one thing that causes the most deaths in this country every year, can be purchased over-the-counter and everyone has it in their homes? Aspirin…now think about that!”
@anotherviewpoint
I know Aspirin is dangerous but never that dangerous – my brother for instance can’t take it because he has a blood disorder that would cause him to die – possibly.
Though isn’t Aspartame more dangerous then Aspirin? We take Aspartame all the time – we take Aspirin only when we’re sick.
Nice article – to bad I hate soft drinks in America [and drink juices]. If they wanted “better” taste just stick real sugar in. Even if its less then 12oz. We, as Americans at least, are fat enough. Cutting a few ounces may help.
“What is the one thing that causes the most deaths in this country every year, can be purchased over-the-counter and everyone has it in their homes? Aspirin…now think about that!”
You might have a point in there, but it’s destroyed by your sentence structure.
Heart disease is the thing that kills the most people in the US, about 700,000 annually. Accidents kill about 100,000. Aspirin kills about 50.
pshh.. is that all? I kill at least a million every year and a half or so
Some disjointed thoughts:
The early pushing of buttons seems easy enough to fix. Simply place a collar made of a unbendable plastic
around the buttons. It would easily be removed once the product had been purchased. Would also prevent the buttons being pushed in transit.
One part of me says it’s a neat idea. The more logical side of me says “if you want cherry lime cola buy cherry lime cola”. Would be a huge waste of money in the long run for the producer. Of course they could
recoup the cost immediately if they sold the public on just how KEWL the idea is. They will gladly pay the higher price. I’m a firm believer in the idea that no one ever lost money underestimating the intelligence of the average American.
Want to try something pretty interesting? Might even warrant an entire Damn Interesting post all it’s own.
You’ll need a packet of Splenda, the faux sugar that’s made from sugar, and a can of Diet Pepsi. Open the DP can and set in the kitchen sink. Pour in the entire packet of Splenda. It’s pretty neat what happens. I found out recently figuring maybe the Splenda would give the DP a more sugary taste. I don’t know if it works with any other diet sodas.
Is that the science experiment where the soda explodes in a giant geyser up to 10 feet tall? If so it might not be so wise to tell people to do it in their kitchens. I saw the geyser thing done with Diet soda and some Mentos. It was pretty cool.
What is the one thing that causes the most deaths in this country every year, can be purchased over-the-counter and everyone has it in their homes? Aspirin…now think about that!”
I think you meant “aspartame”.
…Well, probably not. But I just had to throw that out there considering the story.
I’m just wondering why people dont’ take more responsibility for what goes into their bodies, and stop bringing about these food lawsuits.
I’m a fan of Coke, by the way, and I hear they are bringing back Coke with pure cane sugar. Rotted teeth here I come!
Beanaroo, first I had heard of it being a science experiment. I came accross it all by myself trying to
make the Diet Pepsi taste a bit less gruesome. But now that the cat is out of the bag it did pretty much erupt.
Nothing nearly as bad as what you mentioned. Almost along the line of an orgasm. It simply foamed really
good, never shot up at all. Even though nowhere near your experience it was still pretty neat to me. A sink
will do just fine.
Just cuz I’m a retired navy man I do have some class. GGGGGGG If even the slightest chance of something
nasty happening I would surely mention that.
Lemme see, add Mentos to my shopping list. GGGGGG
Reminds me of the old joke about the priest and the guy that went to confession but it
will have to wait since I’ve been OT too long as it is.
What about Coke in its original form? The addictive additive of cocaine.
Sucks that my dad drank lots of coke almost everyday for 3 or 4 months , now he has some problems with his lung. Might be all that acid huh?
:|
Then coke will have contests to figure out what the additives in certain “mystery pills” was. Is it, diet cherry lemon vanilla or apple pumpkin tofu. then they would make special dispensers that could be attached to the cap threads then push the individually labeled buttons to release carbon dioxide infused pills (pop rocks any one?) into your soda. Isn’t just like a marketing division to over complicate things?
I believe the myth that Coke had Cocaine in it is not true at all. I can’t say for sure cause I wasn’t there when they made it but i’ve heard otherwise.. and how could acid in your stomach cause problems in your lungs? Does he have real bad acid reflux that got in his lungs????
actually, changing the ‘blisters’ into pellets would solve all of the problems…. they could just have pellets come with it.
1.meddlesome persons will pre-push the flavor buttons on the bottles, which spells refreshment disaster for the unsuspecting.
if their in pellets packaged with the bottle, but not on or in the bottle, they would have to rip the packaging open, and then open the bottle. of course this is solved.
2.There is also the question of how to properly mix in the additives without shaking the bottle and precipitating an unwelcome geyser of flavorful fizz.
well, fizz is fun ;-)
anyways, pellets dont solve this, but they could have some kind of ‘mixing stick, and swirl it around in a spiral so it dosnt fizz out.
3.And, to be quite frank, there’s something fundamentally disturbing about smashing blister-shaped nodules to cause colored syrups to ooze into one’s drink
well if its pellets, your not smashing blister shaped nodules, and colored syrups will not ooze into your drink. They will “dissolve” into your drink. ( doesnt make sense does it ;-) )
Want to try something pretty interesting? Might even warrant an entire Damn Interesting post all it’s own.
You’ll need a packet of Splenda, the faux sugar that’s made from sugar, and a can of Diet Pepsi. Open the DP can and set in the kitchen sink. Pour in the entire packet of Splenda. It’s pretty neat what happens. I found out recently figuring maybe the Splenda would give the DP a more sugary taste. I don’t know if it works with any other diet sodas.”
I think pouring just about any sort of powder into just about any sort of carbonated drink will cause this to happen. The powder provides lots of nucleation sites (whatever those are :-P), which are places for bubbles to form. Lots of nucleation sites = lots of bubbles.
Ozzie said: “I believe the myth that Coke had Cocaine in it is not true at all. I can’t say for sure cause I wasn’t there when they made it but i’ve heard otherwise..
Yep, it’s true: http://www.snopes.com/cokelore/cocaine.asp
Oh, by the way, this could cause problems with the pellet idea, as dropping pellets in your drink could have a similar (yet lesser) effect to the pouring-powder-in-your-drink one.
MistaRaggy said: “I would have hours of fun seeing if my friends would try combinations like orange cherry lemon coke if I paid them 50 cents…”
For 50 cents, people here would drink drinkable blister puss.
I believe that I heard that they put cocaine in their drink as well. I seem to recall my source being a reliable one but it was so long ago I can’t say for sure. But it makes sense given the name Coca Cola. To me that sounds like Cocaine in liquid form.
Druggist formulated most of the soft drinks (thus named due to the opposite of hard (otherwise alcohol) drinks). Many of these concoctions were created as medicines that not only “cured” what ailed you, but also tasted good compared to regular medications. Thus many had “medicinal properties” within the formula. The tag line from that era for Coke was “cure all nervous afflictions–Sick Headache, Neuralgia, Hysteria, Melancholy, Etc….” and sold as a patent medicine.
Coke was created in 1886 by an Atlanta druggist by the name of John Styth Pemberton. Part of his original recipe included three parts coca leaves from the cocaine plant to one part cola nut. As to how much cocaine was actually in the product is not known, though Coke officially claims that the amount was very “trivial”.
Due to drug additions in the 1890’s from cocaine, and the New York Tribune calling for legal action against Coke for contributing to an increase in drug related crimes in 1903, the coca leaves were switched from fresh to “modified”. Otherwise the cocaine was removed from the leaves before they were added to the mixture. This is also when Coke was stopped being advertised as a medicine to just a refreshing soft drink for the masses.
If only something as addictive as HFCS can be found that doesn’t cause diabetes, to reduce caloric intake such that the consumers will live longer and hence consume more product.
One of the blister packs on the bottle would have to be pure liquid caffeine. As such, doesn’t it come under government regulation? With such a potent additive (she says with tongue in cheek), surely it would have to be controlled in some way so as to keep such a terrible drug from our children? In other words, blister pack add your own bottles could only be sold to those over 18 and regulated like cigarettes or alcohol. Quickly and effectively addressing a large part (pun intended) of the childhood obesity that is so much in evidence today.
Drink of the Death Squads