Customers no longer need to wait to have their drinks topped up following the launch of a 'smart' glass which signals when it needs to be refilled.

The glass automatically bleeps a refill message when the liquid drops below a certain level, alerting staff to their customers needs.

The iGlassware system was developed by a US team led by Paul Dietz at the Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories in Cambridge, Massachusetts. A microchip linked to a thin radio-frequency coil is placed inside the dishwasher-safe base of each glass.

The glass is welcomed by hotel and restaurant management expert, Ronald Cole: 'Customers feel less satisfied if there is a long delay between order time and fill and refill.'