Technology in Future KitchensTechnology in Future Kitchens

Joseph 'Jofish' Kaye

Häfele

23 September, 1999

San Francisco, CA

Technology in Future KitchensTechnology in Future Kitchens

1. Intro to a wired world

2. Technologies affecting the kitchen

3. Example: How will appliances change?

4. Research projects

5. Conclusions

Counter IntelligenceCounter Intelligence

MIT Media Lab Bits, People &

Things Sponsors (Lab, CI)– Merloni, Kraft,

Unilever, M&S, Stop ‘n’ Shop...

Research areas 3,5,10-15 yrs

My research backgroundMy research background

Counter Intelligence Project Mr. Java– Smart coffee machine

PC Dinners– Barcode-controlled

microwave

Non-kitchen: wearables, inhaler…

Brain and Cognitive Science

A Things That Think PrimerA Things That Think Primer

Intelligent devices:First Stage: no I/OSecond stage: self awarenessThird Stage: communication

Key ConceptsKey Concepts

Bits & Atoms Cloud of Bits Within a context,

recognise and associate preferences

Key TechnologiesKey Technologies

Barcodes Barcodes -> RFID tags Home Networks–Wireless (BlueTooth)–Wired (Firewire)– Phonelines (PhoneNET)– Powerlines (Echelon)

Java / Jini / Hive

Focus: Intra-House Focus: Intra-House Powerline TechnologyPowerline Technology Advantages

– No extra wiring required so…

– Cheap

– Transparent to end user

– Doesn’t inconvenience end userDisadvantages– Not cheap enough (~$30?)… yet

– Low bandwidthExample: Ariston Digital (Europe)

Key Connection: Home to WorldKey Connection: Home to World

USA: Cable modems– Cable TV - 70% market– DSL?

Europe: ?– PTTs, modems & phone calls– ISDN– Little cable saturation– Satellite + ?– Powerline

• NB: NOR-WEB Europe-based powerline internet transmission project scrapped early September.

AppliancesAppliances

Trend: change to digital controlNetworking– Power, diagnostics, upgrade...

Trend: Recombinant Architecture–William Mitchell - MIT– Jane Langmuir - RISD– (Larry Lafata ‘multiple work centers’, Mary Jo

Peterson ‘auxilary kitchens’)Kitchen-wide trend: colour

Cooling & StorageCooling & Storage

Inventory control… (RFID first?)– Keeping track of current contents– Keeping track of desired contents

…which makes possible– Automatic shopping list, online ordering

Recipes: suggest, teach, learnBarcode fridges: unlikelyFridge/kitchen as message center...

Cooking & HeatingCooking & Heating

Temperature tagged cookware?Wildcard: high-conduction heatpipes– but: think of counter as active surface

Think: interaction between pot & stove

RecipesThink: what is the kitchen doing?

Washing & CleaningWashing & Cleaning

Ecology: detergent & water– Ariston Dialogic–Maytag Neptune, Atlantis

RISD’s recombinant architecture– dishwasher...

How can a surface help clean itself?– Seamless surfaces–Water runs downhill

Research ProjectsResearch Projects

PC DinnersMr. JavaCounter IntelligenceUp-to-the-minute

PC DinnersPC Dinners

Computer-augmented barcode-controlled microwave

Reads existing barcodes on products

Cooking time, personality

Mr. JavaMr. Java

Computer-augmented smart coffee machine

RFID tags on cups Gives bits & atoms– double tall latte– latest London news

Counter IntelligenceCounter Intelligence

An intelligent kitchen countertop

Ingredients: RFIDWeight sensorsTouchscreen +

voice output

Counter Intelligence:Counter Intelligence:Current ResearchCurrent ResearchFridge– Most energy-consuming appliance (MJP: 11%

total of home)– Track usage and then intelligently...– “Store up cold”

Stovetop– User interface problem: looks cold– Temperature sensing pots

Hydroponics

Counter Intelligence:Counter Intelligence:Current ResearchCurrent ResearchKitchen as System– Low level: sensors, actuators–Mid level: appliances– High level: “The kitchen is cooking”

Scenario: Kids in the Kitchen

Kids in the KitchenKids in the Kitchen

Traditionally difficult combinationSafety issuesEducation, Fun– Cooking– Food

Interested: Hasbro, Kraft, Merloni, M&S, Sears, Mars/M&M…

Easy-Bake Oven: 1M/yr (still!)

Key Trends & Important PointsKey Trends & Important Points

Continued ecological trend (Blue?)Networked appliances: killer app?– Remote diagnostics & upgrade? Or not?

Graying of the populationReturn to downtownThe Electric Motor Story

• (Donald Norman, The Invisible Computer)

Kitchen awareness on rise

ConclusionsConclusions

Trend: Digital ControlTrend: Networking in & out of homeTrend: Recombinant ArchitectureConcept: Bits & Atoms

Joseph ‘Jofish’ Kaye

jofish@media.mit.edu