Reflect table monitors conversations with LEDs, shows who's all talky

There's always that guy (or girl) who dominates meetings, saying the same thing over and over again, or just repeats what others say. We all find it annoying, and we all wish there was some way to make that blabbermouth aware of his (or her) social transgressions. Enter the Reflect table. Reflect monitors conversations and visualizes -- literally -- who has the table using an array of color LEDs. Microphones listen to all the talk and show who is currently talking, who talks the most, and who's being left out. This could be great for business meetings to tone down the "thinking outside the box," but could also be a terrifying ordeal on a first date.

[Via MAKE]

[rhogan @ Jun 28th 2008 10:18PM]

Terrible news for those of us who prefer not to pay attention!

[Blackstar @ Jun 29th 2008 3:56AM]

So, does it also point a big red arrow towards whoever at the meeting farted?

[OneLove @ Jun 29th 2008 10:18PM]

Joshua just tell ryan to shut up.

[Jhongerkong @ Jun 28th 2008 10:28PM]

Ive heard about another gadget that lets you tell who's talking.

Its called EYES AND EARS.

[Mam00th @ Jun 28th 2008 11:05PM]

You REALLY heard about those!?!?

[BratPAQ @ Jun 29th 2008 12:13AM]

the point is not telling who is talkative, but to give a hint to that person that he is talking too much

[LuvMuffin @ Jun 28th 2008 10:28PM]

i like how the girl only has one light up led must not be paying attion or is just thinking in her mind how did i get stuck her with all these d-bags

[deyanimay @ Jun 28th 2008 10:32PM]

no she is just distracted by the lights.

[LuvMuffin @ Jun 28th 2008 10:48PM]

doubt it

[Blackstar @ Jun 29th 2008 6:44AM]

Um, she's deaf and does not speak dude. Way to point out her handicap. They just put one light on so she would not feel left out.

[matt @ Jun 28th 2008 10:31PM]

converstaions?

[Peter @ Jun 28th 2008 11:19PM]

You know, those stations at work where you're allowed to converse.

What's that you say? You're allowed to talk WHENEVER YOU WANT?!

[Echo1 @ Jun 28th 2008 10:34PM]

Similar to the surroundings-sensitive LED table:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkmpIXd9Q90

[TavisJohn @ Jun 29th 2008 12:05AM]

My cat would be ignoring the string and attacking the lights. lol

And imagine having little kids. They would be waving and patting the table forever. lol

[Dyranios @ Jun 28th 2008 10:37PM]

http://img384.imageshack.us/img384/5233/picture1lm3.jpg

[paul34 @ Jun 28th 2008 11:32PM]

You have some crappy ClearType or whatever poorly configured font enhancement tech you use.

[Dyranios @ Jun 28th 2008 11:34PM]

what

[Jon Doe. @ Jun 29th 2008 12:48AM]

Paul, huh...Its a JPEG?

[Ghen @ Jun 28th 2008 10:45PM]

they couldn't spring for a piece of plexiglass that was a bit more clear?

[MacDork @ Jun 28th 2008 11:25PM]

The problem is that the people who tend to be long-winded extroverts are proud of it. This just encourages them.

[giuliop @ Jun 29th 2008 6:22AM]

Well said; plus it has a the opposite effect on introvert people, so, in the end, it's a lose-lose situation.

[Eric @ Jun 29th 2008 11:09AM]

Don't forget all the people who just talk all the time and just don't care.

[Osiris @ Jun 29th 2008 11:54AM]

I think the point is more to help develop healthy groups in a business environment where everyone is able to contribute their ideas and opinions equally.

[cantcount @ Jun 28th 2008 11:51PM]

The reason the guys are talking so much is because they're trying to impress the girl. That's what happens by default when you have one female and more that one guy.

[nick @ Jun 28th 2008 11:55PM]

Kinda seems like a rather lame and thinly veiled attempt to being back disco.

[Jinto.lin @ Jun 28th 2008 11:56PM]

In the Anime Macross Frontier they had something like this, except when people were talking to each other arrows on the table (a LCT screen table) would shoot out at the person that they were talking to. Later on, when two of the characters were talking quietly, the arrows were slowly going from person to person and subtly going to the guy and girl talking quietly. It was neat.

[Andrew Mason @ Jun 29th 2008 12:27AM]

Where I work, we developed this thing where everyone has a button they can press, and if the majority of people at the table hold down the button, it gives a mild electric shock to whoever is speaking.

[Jon Doe. @ Jun 29th 2008 12:50AM]

Obviously an Apple product. All style. Looks flashy. Zero substance.

*shrugs* Hey if the Apple fanbois can do it.....

[Klaas @ Jun 29th 2008 3:10AM]

LMAO what are you talking about, the thing looks freaking ugly.

[tojfs7931 @ Jun 29th 2008 1:43AM]

Im sorry, but I do NOT want a table that monitors how much I talk in a social setting.

[Anthony @ Jun 29th 2008 1:53AM]

Weird But Ok

[Travis @ Jun 29th 2008 1:55AM]

"This could be great for business meetings to tone down the "thinking outside the box," but could also be a terrifying ordeal on a first date."

Who would take a date to a business meeting?

[gad get @ Jun 29th 2008 6:48AM]

So THAT'S why I got no second date...

[Travis @ Jun 29th 2008 1:55AM]

"This could be great for business meetings to tone down the "thinking outside the box," but could also be a terrifying ordeal on a first date."

Who would take a date to a business meeting?

[allislost @ Jun 29th 2008 3:31AM]

This is gonna get a lot of mute people fired.

[gad get @ Jun 29th 2008 6:51AM]

If their job depends on their talking, I would think that mute people wouldn't have been hired in the first place.

[rita hainsworth @ Jun 29th 2008 5:49AM]

I'm installing this on my moms kitchen table.

[XenoX101 @ Jun 29th 2008 9:16AM]

Oh dear, another metric for managers to observe, report on and compare incorrectly with employee productivity. I can see it already.

Manager John: Hi Paul, how are you

Paul: Uh, I'm on my lunch break actually

Manager John: Great, good to hear

Paul: What?

Manager John: Paul, how are you doing at home?

Paul: What are you talkin about..

Manager John: Is everything ok?

Paul: Yeah, everything is fine.

Manager John: Ok, because if it isn't, you should let me know

Paul: Right, ok.

Manager John: So I was looking at the results for that meeting yesterday.

Paul: Ok

Manager John: It's about our new LED system. I expected a little bit more from you.

Paul: How so?

Manager John: Have you been doing alright at home?

Paul: Yes, I told you that already

Manager John: We expect a little bit more Paul, we noticed you only had one LED the whole time.

Paul: Mmm

Manager John: It's OK for now, but I hope you'll do a bit better next time, maybe go for another LED, this would mean a lot for the business. Could you do this for me?

Paul: I can try

Manager John: I'm glad we had this talk Paul, I'll let you have the rest of your lunch break now, just be sure to be back at 1

Paul: It's 1 now

Manager John: Ok well take care Paul.

[giuliop @ Jun 29th 2008 12:25PM]

Paul should definitely wear more pieces of flair.

[A @ Jun 29th 2008 9:16AM]

Hey Engadget, you spelt 'conversations' wrong in the title...

[phanbouy @ Jun 29th 2008 1:20PM]

FREE DECAPITATION! GO TO IMASHITHEADSPAMMER.COM TODAY!

[sunny beach @ Jun 30th 2008 3:42AM]

I wish I could have this on my business meeting. So that I can figure out who talks a lot nonsense.

[Bertie242 @ Jul 1st 2008 12:48AM]

I've been looking for a way to do something like this for AIM, has anyone heard of a similar thing?
I run a Mac, and usually use iChat, though I have a Windows compy running the boring standard AIM as well.

What I'd really like is some sort of meter to show who's said more in a conversation. I know iChat has addon functionality, but is this possible?