Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Sometimes when the craving for pizza hits you need a pie fast and a new invention makes getting one easier than ever before.
With PiePal, ordering a pizza is as simple as hitting a button to send out a distress signal to your local pizza delivery man. You can pre-program the button with your favorite pizza from Dominos to arrive in your time of need.
"What do people get late at night, what is something you don't want to use an app for, what is something you just want to hit a button for? Pizza," iStrategyLabs' chief marketing officer DJ Saul told NPR.
iStrategyLabs created the hunger-ending button by printing parts on a 3D printer, adding LED lights and connecting it to the internet. Users create a PiePal account with their address, billing information and preferred pizza. PiePal places orders with Dominos because the chain offers the most sophisticated website, Saul said.
Using the button is simple. First, you turn the dial to select how many pizzas you want to order. Then you press the center button to place the order, which is confirmed when it lights up. Finally, you kill time until your pizza arrives.
Related Story
5 more of the absolute best pizza joints in Utah
We all feel that deep, unsettling hunger, the kind that only comes from craving the best and most addictive food mankind has ever created.PiePal's website provides joking testimonials for those who might be skeptical of their button's usefulness.
"PiePal literally saved my life," Old Guy said.
The button isn't scheduled to hit stores yet, but those anxious to try it out can volunteer to be a "tester" by submitting their email address on PiePal's website. Applicants have some competition, though — Saul told KSL they have had emails coming in from all over the world.
He said they'll let demand shape PiePal's future, and iStrategyLab is already working on its next project to be released in December. Previous projects have included a paintball gun fired by tweets.
