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"While it’s probably neat to be able to light a candle from your phone, it’s a fantastic example of something the world could do perfectly well without." The w

• emodendroket 10y ago
  Name one situation where you would really benefit from a remote-controlled candle. And besides that, it's not as though some new technology has been invented here. This is combining well-understood parts together.
  • coldcode 10y ago
    Arson?
    • emodendroket 10y ago
      Well, in that case I'm not sure I can recommend a candle tied to your smartphone.
  • Spivak 10y ago
    > Name one situation where you would really benefit from a remote-controlled candle. Dramatic effect for my DnD campaign.
    • tdb7893 10y ago
      Damn, you beat me to it. My first thought when I heard of these was "I need 30 of these for awesome D&D effects"
    • koolba 10y ago
      > Dramatic effect for my DnD campaign. Preprogrammed maybe, but pulling out your phone to alter the lights after rolling a d20 would offset any added vibe. The analog solution of having the candles already lit and then, "Poof!", blowing them out as soon as you see that they failed the roll is far superior.
      • dragonwriter 10y ago
        > Preprogrammed maybe, but pulling out your phone to alter the lights after rolling a d20 would offset any added vibe. "Pulling out your phone", sure, but if its out already because you also use it for other game related functions...
        • r_smart 10y ago
          And it's sitting on the table behind your screen...
      • PhasmaFelis 10y ago
        Obviously you'd have the phone out and the app pulled up before going into the scene.
  • jrowley 10y ago
    Say you own a restaurant with 100 tables. Each night someone needs to manually go and blow the candle out or turn it off. Now you can turn them all on and off simultaneously and remotely. Additionally, if its a LED candle you might be able to monitor the battery status remotely. Probably not cost effective in the long run, but that depends on the cost of labor.
    • icebraining 10y ago
      The candle doesn't seem replaceable, so you'd need to buy another of these smart t̶u̶r̶d̶s̶ candles every time. Considering that those restaurants keep them lit for hours, that would be insanely expensive.
    • EliRivers 10y ago
      Each night someone needs to manually go and blow the candle out or turn it off. I've developed an app and wait staff tracking system that allows restaurateurs to keep track of where the staff are going to be in the normal course of their duties and find high-efficiency ways to add tasks such as candle extinguishing. During our closed-beta, it turned out that in such restaurants, the staff had to visit each table anyway for the purposes of cleaning and restocking between diner occupations, and again at the end of service; our app ensures they get additional training and reminding to blow out the candle while they're there. We're opening to investors next week.
      • jrowley 10y ago
        haha I was just spitballing an idea. But very good point. I'd like to invest.
  • stevetrewick 10y ago
    >Name one situation where you would really benefit from a remote-controlled candle. I'm sitting down and cuddling and a candle is more than arms length away. I want to light it, but I don't want to stop cuddling or get up. Why would you want a remote for your TV? Same thing.
  • xigency 10y ago
    Well, I actually like the idea. It's fun and more useful then a number of apps (Yo). And the parent commenter's main point was that it opened doors to imaginative ideas, not that this idea itself were practical or useful. It's also potentially dangerous so that makes it interesting.
  • paradite 10y ago
    Special occasions that needs dramatic effect? Such as weddings, proposing, anniversary, especially at night. Easier to set up than actual lights and creates better ambiance.
  • colmvp 10y ago
    I could see someone using it for an art piece. Or to make it easier to place and light a candle in hard to access area. Also being able to light/put out based on timer might be a minor QoL improvement. Personally, i'll stick with normal candles since I like the tactile and sensory experience of lighting a match and candle.
  • Infernal 10y ago
    An event venue that wants a swanky "authentic" chandelier hung from a high spot? Maybe a church or other venue with dozens or hundreds of candles that need to be lit and extinguished? Restaurants that otherwise have to have a server walk around and light all the table candles at dusk... I don't know if it's enough for this company to survive on, but I can certainly think of real benefits over "traditional" candles for quite a few cases.
  • stevetrewick 10y ago
    Another, I'm about to start listening to Phantom of The Opera with friends. Opening chord sounds, pop a bunch of candles. Awesome.
  • PhasmaFelis 10y ago
    Are you going to tell me that every single object in your home provides real, material benefit to you?
    • icebraining 10y ago
      With the exception of homemade gifts, pretty much, yes. Why would you keep useless crap around?
      • PhasmaFelis 10y ago
        No art, no keepsakes, no souvenirs? Nothing that you keep solely because it pleases you?
        • icebraining 10y ago
          Not really, except for the aforementioned homemade stuff. I used to have a couple hundred books, but I gave them all away a few years ago. I'm not a minimalist, I certainly have more stuff than I strictly need, but they're all practical. Art is wonderful. Art at home eventually loses its appeal and becomes more crap to maintain.
  • normalfaults 10y ago
    Two people in geographically different areas want synchronized candles as a memorial to remember a shared loved ones passing...
  • dspillett 10y ago
    > Name one situation where you would really benefit from a remote-controlled candle. As well as the D&D example, I can think of a couple of daft romantic gestures it might enhance. Assuming the target of the gesture is a little nerdy of course, otherwise it might detract from the atmosphere rather than enhance it.