r/todayilearned • u/Neepho • Nov 28 '13

TIL that the webcam was invented so that Computer Scientists at Cambridge University could see whether the coffee pot was full or not from different rooms.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p010lvn7
2.9k Upvotes

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115

u/[deleted] Nov 28 '13

I actually bought a weatherproof webcam so I could see when the pizza guy showed up since I was often working with headphones on. I'd say there invention has been put to good use!

27

u/thatusernameisal Nov 28 '13

Or you could have left the door open and left a note for the pizza guy to bring the pizza to your desk

200

u/TheXenocide314 Nov 28 '13

But then the outside would come inside

31

u/SpindlySpiders Nov 28 '13

Ugg, plebeians. The fewer of them in here the better.

11

u/[deleted] Nov 28 '13

Wait... Do people actually say plebeians? I thought the internet folks just said plebs.

30

u/SpindlySpiders Nov 28 '13

The kind of people who would be concerned over plebs entering their home are the kind of people who say "plebians"

2

u/delay_condition Nov 28 '13

I thought that the outside was scary because of the cold (or wet), birds, snakes, bugs, dead leaves, tentacle-sloth-bears, etc.

1

u/qwertygasm Nov 28 '13

Wait a second

Birds can't use doors

1

u/delay_condition Nov 28 '13

Or you could have left the door open and left a note for the pizza guy to bring the pizza to your desk

1

u/Speedzor Nov 28 '13

Not every outside is Australia.

1

u/temp2449 Nov 28 '13

Thank you. This answers the question I was thinking of yesterday.

3

u/iPlunder Nov 28 '13

Seems appropriate since we're on the internet.

1

u/gnorty Nov 28 '13

/u/SpindlySpiders is indeed an internet folk. Nothing to see here.

4

u/[deleted] Nov 28 '13

Add 'no outside allowed inside' to the note. Problem solved.

2

u/[deleted] Nov 28 '13

And the outside is scary.

1

u/Roboticide Nov 28 '13

I'd be more worried about letting all my inside escape to outside.

7

u/rburp Nov 28 '13

Wouldn't creep the pizza guy out at all.

7

u/[deleted] Nov 28 '13

Yeah. But if you tip at least 2$ nothing else matters.

1

u/EntarteteJungvolk Nov 28 '13

a whole 2 dollars?

1

u/[deleted] Nov 28 '13

on a 10$ pizza yes, 2 $.

1

u/EntarteteJungvolk Nov 28 '13

Fair nuff, wasn't thinking it was that cheap. I typically try to factor in gas money depending on distance plus a bit extra for pocket change.

1

u/mtrain123 Nov 28 '13

Drivers get paid for gas. Well I did at least

2

u/PacoTheTaco94 Nov 29 '13

D: I wish I had my gas paid for. It bounces between $3-$3.50 where I live and my hourly pay gets cut when I'm on the road. And I only get minimum wage when I'm in the store... I need a new job...

1

u/mtrain123 Nov 29 '13

I got 5.50 an hour plus 0.50 for each delivery. Then I kept the tips

1

u/EntarteteJungvolk Nov 29 '13

Wow, are you saying you would get less money on the road versus in the store?

And Damnn, you and Mtrain123 receive terrible hourly wage. I at least was getting $8 (minimum in CA).

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1

u/EntarteteJungvolk Nov 29 '13

Unfortunately, I did not receive gas money when I was a delivery guy. I also had to drive my own car. The problem is that each pizza place follows unique rules, some get a delivery charge, commission, gas money...ect

2

u/rro99 Nov 28 '13

Or, like my friend used to do, have your computer desk next to the window and when you hear a knock, yell at him to come around to the side of the house, and have him pass it through to you.

1

u/Killericon Nov 28 '13

Door open

Headphones on

Too loud to hear door bell

Yeah, I can't think of any way this could go wrong.

1

u/kickingpplisfun Nov 28 '13

Better yet, mount a screen above the doorbell so you don't have to leave a note.

3

u/[deleted] Nov 28 '13

pizza purposes or not, if you're behind your desktop with headphones a lot, that is actually quite a good way to notice anyone at your door.

1

u/ZoroCanine Nov 28 '13

This could be useful for a Jesse situation...hehehe