A while ago, I made a list of my ten most beautiful computers, which ignited some heavy debate since Cray wasn’t mentioned. Anyway, one of the items on the list was the Honeywell Kitchen Computer, the H316. This was a very basic and incredibly difficult to handle machine which was supposed to store and display recipes, but its most awesome feature was a built-in cutting board. Despite its ridiculousness, I think it’s a beautiful piece of design, a pre-cursor to a type of computer everyone in the ’50s thought we would have now (get it?). Well, the idea of a kitchen computer is supposed to make a comeback. Update: Eugenia just pointed me to a photo her husband took of the H316 at the Computer History Museum in California, as well as a product photo of Be, Inc.’s take on the kitchen computer.
Back when the idea of computers first started penetrating the public mind, people starting having all these crazy and whacky ideas of what computers would look like in the future. The idea of a kitchen computer had its feet firmly planted in those trains of thought, but despite the awesomeness of the H316, it never really caught on – which could have something to do with the fact that the H316 required a two-week programming course with the switch-and-lights operated device before you could actually work with it.
Having a computer in your kitchen doesn’t actually sound like too weird of an idea. I know some people who have a TV in their kitchen (that’s rare over here though) and sometimes a radio. Having a computer would mean that you don’t have to print the recipes to use those in your kitchen, or that you have to move your laptop there. It could also play music in any format you wish, some video, you name it. This could be a market – if done right.
El Reg thinks that a recently announced product by ARC, a manufacturer of embedded systems, is something that could make it a whole lot easier for OEMs to make these devices. The Media Phone is a stack designed from the silicon up, meaning it has all the audio and video chips as well as codecs necessary to play audio and video. It’s also instant-on, with access to the internet. This type of device, like the Jogger from O2 and the Hub from Verizon, is perfect for use in the kitchen. With ARC’s solution, the OEM “only” has to build its own user interface, and shove it in a box.
What interests me the most – and you too, probably – is the operating system this thing runs on. It is powered by the MQX Embedded Operating System, which is a real-time operating system with a small footprint and – obviously – a microkernel. This thing isn’t even listed on Wikipedia, so I had to dig a little deeper to find more information about it. I found said information, and it’s all quite interesting. MQX is found in lots of devices around the world, and is tightly integrated with Freescale’s CodeWarrior tools to make development for and with it easier. Source code is available, and you’re free to do with it as you please. Support is limited to PowerPC and ColdFire processors, though. You can request a free evaluation kit.
It wouldn’t be too hard to turn this Media Phone platform into a modern-day H316. The design is already here, folks, and so are the internals. All I’m waiting for is for some genius to add the two together, and I’m buying it.
The H316 (I had to look up the old article!) was like a lunch counter from the Death Star!!!
The next best “kitchen” computer was the 3Com Audrey. It was about a decade ahead if it’s time and got the lumps to prove it. At the time home wireless and fast internet were scarce so it wasn’t that useful. It’s form factor is perfect, but it needed more features to work… like all the things a netbook can do! I wonder if anybody’s modded an Aspire One into that chassis and screen, it would rock.
There’s a newer version of the same idea in the Verison “home base”. Even the TV commercials show similar “Audrey” features. It connects to your POTS line to be a “visual voicemail” machine which is the one thing Audrey was always missing.
The time has definitely come for ubiquitous home computers that are simple and reliable, and don’t need to worry about OS or even data backups, just like those Toasters that run BSD and can openers.
Of course I’m still holding out for the “whole touchscreen” LCARS PADD from ST:TNG also. The kitchen version would be sealed up and dishwasher safe!
Edited 2009-06-04 20:27 UTC
LCARS… you are funny!
I would only do that if you could also invoke a voice interface by saying “COMPUTER!” … and it would also have to have Majel Barrett’s voice.
…or maybe that sexy voice from ST:TOS when the enterprise went back in time, ended up in Earth’s atmosphere…
For recipes, browsing while doing other things…
In our new house, there isn’t as good a spot for it as there was in our old house… so now she has a laptop and just takes it where ever she goes.
My husband, JBQ (now at Google), worked on that BeOS-based model with Benoit Schillings (now at Trolltech/Nokia) back then at Be, Inc. While it was a prototype, I think he’s very proud of the work the two of them did in a very short amount of time.
Didn’t that become the BeIA platform in the Sony evilla (thanks to the googles)
That was another early attempt at a low-power all-in-one subdesktop. [Internet Appliance] It wasn’t until ATOM that the whole thing finally took off in the eeePCs.
“… it has all the audio and video chips as well as codecs necessary to play audio and video.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRq_SAuQDec
Sorry, couldn’t resist 🙂
A real thing:
http://www.gadgetreview.com/2008/09/gorenje-ipod-fridge.html
iPod is a more powerful computer than any of those historical attempts. This device does not double as a cutting board, but it can store milk and eggs (not to mention beer)…
P.S. I keep a first-generation Asus Eee in the kitchen. Perfect for recipes.
Don’t forget the touch netbook from Always Innovating.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10185351-1.html
It’s magnetic so you can stick the whole thing on the fridge to get it out of the way.
There already is a Kitchen Computer, and it is built into the refrigerator.
http://www.pointlessbutcool.com/gadgets/digital_multimedia_side-by-…
When I first saw the HP Touchsmart, I thought “Kitchen PC”. The interface may need some more polish, but a touchscreen iMac like computer with a TV tuner and media software is what I always thought of as a kitchen PC.
It even has a remote. It just needs a membrane keyboard.
I think the kitchen PC is here.
Believe me or not, but for me it suits better to the toilet. Well… I mean the design today looks more like from modern toilet – something between cash-machine and sink. Very sophisticated connection.
But to be honest, I don’t know why I have so much sentiment to this brand. For sure they are producing one of the best controllers on the market right now. Maybe they shouldn’t experiment with the “kitchen tools” again?
But you know, there is a connection between cooking and computers, at least between cooking and software engineering. I have to agree with RMS 😉 And maybe this idea of kitchen computer is not so bad 😉 Lol.
Do you REALLY need a computer for recipes?
Does ANYONE really use recipes that much (or even cook that much anymore)?
Internet “appliances” abound.
They’re called “older computers with linux on them”.
Stick one in a corner and voila!
Instant surfing/email/webradio.
Amazing.