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I've been hearing about fridges-that-order-groceries for at least ten years. It's one of those dumb ideas that just keeps coming up, despite the fact that there
by hugh3 15y ago
I've been hearing about fridges-that-order-groceries for at least ten years. It's one of those dumb ideas that just keeps coming up, despite the fact that there's no demand for it. Basically, I don't trust my fridge with my credit card... and besides, I don't want to order groceries by delivery anyway, particularly not the kind of perishable goods that I'd be keeping in my refrigerator.
I suppose I wouldn't mind having a fridge which knew what was in it, so I could check what I needed to pick up on my way home before I left the office. But I doubt the system could be made smart enough that it actually saved me more mental effort than it consumed. The low-tech version is to simply put cameras in your fridge so that you can check its contents remotely... but even if I had this set up I doubt I'd use it all that often.
Maybe I'm being overly harsh on the smart-fridge idea. But I think it's representative of a huge class of dumb ideas: let's use fancy technology to save some minor effort for the consumer, at the cost of the consumer now having to go to the effort of acquiring, learning and maintaining yet another fancy piece of new technology. Screw it, I want my microwave with dials back.
- superkarn 15y agoWhat about commercial fridges like restaurants? Or work place refrigerators? I can see the set-it-and-forget-it feature working well in these scenarios.
- tlholaday 15y agoAlthough I share your sentiment, there is contrary evidence. Consider this essay: http://www.taquitos.net/chipworld/articles/snaxpo-learned.shtml http://www.taquitos.net/chipworld/articles/snaxpo-learned.sh... > Convenience in foods will continue. Anything that takes the steps out of a process will become successful. Witness the "chip/dip" combo packs that Frito Lay is now selling. Open the package, you have chips and dip right there. No need to go to the fridge! At the testing area, Jays demonstrated a combo pack that had mini pretzels and honey mustard that was extremely tasty. Other examples included a pre-cooked baked potato that includes the sour cream, butter and salt and pepper inside the package. All you have to do is nuke the potato for a few minutes and you've got instant lunch.
- hugh3 15y agoI'm really not sure how fast food product ideas contradict my point about adding unnecessary complications to home electronics, but... damn, a one-step microwaveable baked potato sounds great.