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Generally
the products offered by appliance producers are conservative in
design but every now and then something unusual appears on the market.
At this time it's the internet refrigerator. They
have recently introduced a refrigerator with a television in the door. It
allows you to watch your favorite programs while getting supper ready.
Also, messages can be left on the screen for family members to see later.
Other manufacturers
have been contemplating different types of internet refrigerators. How
about one with a bar code
scanner built into the door that could record
every package added or removed from inside. The simple touch of a
button would indicate what is inside the refrigerator . The refrigerator would never lie. I can
see the scenario now: “Mommy where did you hide the Popsicles? The
refrigerator says there are two left”. Perhaps,
the question should be, ”do you really care what is inside your
refrigerator”? Personally I would say no. But, I can think of situations
where it could be useful.
Perhaps
you are disabled and cannot access the refrigerator interior. It might be advantageous to know you only have one quart of milk left? You would
access this information via a computer screen on the outside of the door.
Or what if
the same person is able to push a touch pad on the computer screen and get
a read out (or a printout) of all the contents? It would certainly make
their shopping easier. How about
if the refrigerator were hooked into a service that delivers food to the
home? If the refrigerator can keep track of the contents it will also
know when you have run out of something. Every week it could total your
contents, connects itself to the Internet, and place an order with the
grocery store. Later that day the delivery truck arrives, restocks your
shelves, and you are ready for another week. All you have to do is
pay the
bill. No grocery store parking, no lineups, no trying to remember what you
did with your grocery list. Ah, the joys of the modern age.
Well
we’re not there quite yet. The Internet refrigerators we have today can
be connected to the web, but only for service. Perhaps it starts making funny
noises and you want to know why. Connect it to the telephone outlet, dial
a service center number, and the refrigerator will self-diagnose, offering
you suggestions as to the cause of the problem. So the
question we all have to ask ourselves is, “is it worth the extra
cost”. Would an Internet refrigerator be helpful – or is it only
marketing hype. As usual the consumer will make the final decision
regarding that query.
Customers
I have mentioned this refrigerator to are generally intrigued by the idea
– at first. Then they usually tell me they think the world is already
too fast paced. A lot of people work with computers all day and just want
to get away from them at home. They already think computers are ruling
their office, they don’t want them ruling their kitchen. To my
customers this type of product is only one more thing that would add to
their stress level. So unless you have a specific need for an Internet
refrigerator I think it is something that the general public is not yet
ready to embrace.
By
Donald Grummett
Copyright ©
2004 Donald
Grummett. All rights reserved
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