Technology has taken over the living room, but the kitchen is also under siege. From three-in-one small kitchen appliances to voice-activated microwaves and Internet screens on fridge doors, the uses of technology are boundless for the kitchen. As busy lifestyles get busier, large and small appliances continue to evolve to meet the needs and wants of their tech-minded owners.
Domotics
Domotics, the general term for home automation, include any automated small appliances, devices, or security and networking systems used in the home. Home appliance management systems connect small appliances wirelessly and make them accessible to the home owner by cell phone or Internet. With further developments in small kitchen appliance technology, you could call your home management system via cell phone, and then tell your oven to preheat and your high-tech refrigerator to move food to a specialized heating compartment so it's ready to put in the oven when you get home.
Voice-Activated Small Kitchen Appliances
One type of high-tech small appliance already on the market is the voice-activated microwave. After programming for various foods, you can tell the microwave what you want to cook, and it starts cooking with the correct time and temperature. No more twirling your finger in circles as you try to decide how long to reheat the meatloaf again and again! Say the words and it knows what to do.
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Ovens are also being developed with voice-activated controls. Refrigerators with specialized compartments for heating will move food from the cooling compartment to the heating area at the command of your voice. Call your fridge from work and warm food will greet you when you arrive home.
With innovative large and small appliances, the cooking world can be almost as fast as the rest of the world. It can also be fun if you like interactive technology. Just think . . . a blender that adjusts its mode to match the blending sounds you make might be in your future.
