I remember when I was young boy and dreaming of the day when science would invent a two-way wrist radio that I could use where ever I went- like Dick Tracy, or have a movie screen in my living room - like Richie Rich, or program coordinates into a computer which would automatically get me to my destination - like Captain Kirk. Now, cell phones and pagers, flat screen TV's and GPS have made all that seem passe.

Now I dream of the day when someone would invent a self-contained, self-refrigerating beer can so that I could enjoy a frothy, ice-cold mug of my favorite adult beverage anytime, anywhere. Imagine, no refrigerators, bulky beer coolers or need for ice? 

Well, it appears that my dream will soon come true.

In an effort to boost publicity and gain bragging rights in the crowded low-Alcohol beverage market, Miller Brewing Company is betting American consumers are willing to pay a significant premium for the convenience and novelty of such a device and are racing to mass produce the cans in time for next summer.

It's called the Instant Cool Can, or the I.C. Can™ and it is the result of the partnership between Tempra Technology and Crown Holdings.

The design utilizes an elegant combination of thermal, insulating and vacuum heat pump technology. The self-contained aluminum I.C. Can™ is the approximate size of a 500 ml beverage can, including the beverage container itself, and the integral self-cooling device.

The I.C. Can™ applies basic physics and rapid evaporation technology that results in a temperature drop of the containers contents by a minimum of 30° Fahrenheit (16.7° C) in just three minutes. It is activated by twisting the base of the can which breaks an internal seal and exposes a desiccant material contained within a vacuum, to a gelled water substance that surrounds the beverage. The vacuum quickly draws the heat from the beverage through the evaporator matrix and into an insulated heat-sink chamber located at the bottom of the can. It is their patented vacuum-process which lowers the temperature so dramatically and rapidly, leaving the beverage inside cool.

The developers say the design is 100% safe and environmentally benign; easy to operate, store and transport. The I.C. Can™ uses no carbon dioxide, CFC, HFC, or any other compressed gas and is totally non-toxic, without risk of gas or vapor escape.

Miller says to expect the first cans to show up on store shelves in mid-2007. I'll be among the first to say "pass me a warm one, would you?"