New Gadget Will Tell You How Busy Your Favourite Haunts Are So You Can Dodge The Queue

A new gadget tells users how busy their favourite places are meaning that they may never have to queue again.

The Density sensor detects how many people are entering or leaving a building at any one time, giving the user a good idea if the place in question is filled to the rafters or sparsely populated.

Whether it’s a restaurant, coffees shop, post office or the gym, the clever gadget will gather anonymous data on how many people are there meaning that users can choose their timing carefully to avoid the crowds.

The tiny infrared detector is mounted to a door frame and measures movement in order to count the number of people present.

The information is then passed on to the user via a dedicated app.

Density is already being used by Workform, an app for remote workers to find the best spots, while Sacramento-based startup Requested is using the technology to provide deals based on whether participating restaurants are busy or not.

The technology is also being used in several areas at UC Berkeley’s campus including gyms and workspaces.

The ultimate goal is for the technology to be used everywhere which could eliminate, or at least dramatically reduce, the need to queue in future.

(Image credit: Density)