26 cubic foot Multi-Media Refrigerator
What in the world? Why?
I’m sorry, am i just getting older or has someone in R&D been taking too many “happy pills”?
Look at where the screen is. Even if I wanted to stand in front of my refrigerator and send someone an e-mail (or surf SDMB) I’d end up with back pain.
Does anyone else see the use of this mutant of the high-tech age?
I was so stumped by this I did a little spoken word bit on the matter.
You’re obviously either not addicted to the internet, or you don’t drink enough beer. I think this idea is perfect.
Is this over the top? I don’t think so. I woldn’t want to “surf the net” while just standing there, but the ability to play my mp3s while cooking, checking my email while waiting for the water to boil, look up on-line recipes and referencing them while in the kitchen. . .all sounds good to me!
I picture myself standing motionless in front of the refrigerator with chocolate dribbling down the side of my face, utterly blank expression, surfing for porn for hours on end…not a good combination…
Well, you know the idea of the “Internet refridgerator” started back in the “dot com” days. The idea was that it would have a bar code scanner and could keep track of what you were out of and eventually send a grocery list to an online vendor like Webvan. Buying groceries would be an almost fully-automated process. It was a cool idea, but ahead of it’s time.
I still do like the idea of the “Internet microwave” - the oven would have a bar code scanner and all you’d need to do to cook something would be to scan it in (you’d need the Internet connection to download new instructions).
I guess this fridge is an outgrowth of those ideas, but it hardly seems “useful”. Cool? Yes! Something we couldn’t live without? Certainly not!
Rex
Well, you know the idea of the “Internet refridgerator” started back in the “dot com” days. The idea was that it would have a bar code scanner and could keep track of what you were out of and eventually send a grocery list to an online vendor like Webvan. Buying groceries would be an almost fully-automated process. It was a cool idea, but ahead of it’s time.
I still do like the idea of the “Internet microwave” - the oven would have a bar code scanner and all you’d need to do to cook something would be to scan it in (you’d need the Internet connection to download new instructions).
I guess this fridge is an outgrowth of those ideas, but it hardly seems “useful”. Cool? Yes! Something we couldn’t live without? Certainly not!
Rex
I believe it is based on at least some of the following ideas:
Many families currently use the fridge as a household message board (attaching notes with magnets).
Online grocery shopping is becoming commonplace; it kind of makes sense that any generic shopping device would be in the kitchen; you could order stuff as you notice that you’re running low.
Nearly everyone has a fridge - if the utopian daydreams regarding computerised homes are to become real, some sort of centralised ‘server’ device would be sensible - at first, the TV might seem the ideal candidate for this, but this is probably not the case as online shopping, programming your heating etc would entail competition for use of the TV screen - The fridge is available pretty much all the time.
I think the idea has some merit. A shared family PC can be useful for keeping track of the family contact information and schedule. It can also be used as a file server and to control various household appliances such as security systems. The natural place to put such a PC is the kitchen, but a standard PC takes a lot of space. Build one into the fridge and it takes no additional space. A PC in the kitchen is also useful for quick browsing (like checking the weather forecast during breakfast) and, obviously, for managing recipes.
If the price comes way down I’d consider it. Right now it costs way more than buying a fridge and PC separately.
“Cool website, dude.”
I’m typing this on my toaster right now.