JUST A LITTLE READING:
The Internet Appliance
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IDC is forecasting that by 2002 there will be an overall installed
base of 515 million Web devices. And by that time, they forecast that
the shipment of NON-PC Internet Appliances will be growing far faster
than the shipment of traditional PCs (a CAGR of 96% vs. 12%
respectively - idcresearch.com, with non-
PC Internet Appliances catching up and accounting for "almost 50% of
unit shipments by 2002." So, given these possible market directions,
it's interesting to think about an early Internet Appliance fashion
idea from NCR -- the "Microwave Bank."
Picture, if you will, a traditional microwave oven, but with a touch-
sensitive LCD screen in place of the door's window:
www3.ncr.com
But why the name "Microwave Bank" for what seems to be a simple
microwave-PC combination? Because this is envisioned to be more, and
less, than a generic PC that also heats lunch. NCR's Knowledge Lab
(http://www.knowledgelab.com/) is offering this idea as one way to
bring electronic banking and financial services to the folks who
don't "do PCs." (And, even to households that do have regular PCs, by
providing a stable, focused "appliance." That way little Joey,
downloading the latest game and catching a virus, doesn't prevent Mom
from paying the bills.)
But why incorporate this into a microwave oven? Because, according to
Knowledge Lab director Stephen Emmott in the Sept. 11 Computergram,
"Unlike the PC or the TV, the microwave is in the working center of
the home - the kitchen - and it's a device most people are familiar
and comfortable with."
Picture this. While we're heating our leftovers, we can also, using
the touch screen or built-in voice recognition, bring up recipes from
the Web (on how to combine several leftovers?) We can pay the
electricity bill that just came in. And, because of the built-in bar
code scanner, we can wave the almost-empty bottle of ketchup at the
microwave which will recognize it and add it to the week's shopping
list. (It can also automatically send that shopping list to one of
the online grocery services, such as Peapod (http://www.peapod.com/)
or NetGrocer (http://www.netgrocer.com/), to keep our pantry
stocked!) And, if our Microwave Bank also has a TV tuner board, we
can catch up on the latest soaps.
Of course an appliance that keeps track of what and how we eat, and
what and where we buy and save, can get to know quite a bit about us
yielding some interesting opportunities (and the need to think about
privacy issues):
"The Microwave Bank will get to know more about your preferences and
lifestyle each time you use it, thanks to an intelligent agent which
stores and processes all the requests you make. If you've started to
buy reduced fat yogurt, the Microwave Bank can suggest that you try
skimmed milk too; or, when it knows your holiday is approaching, it
can remind you to invest in some sun block - even flagging up reduced
rates on particular Web sites."
www3.ncr.com
What I find interesting about the Microwave Bank is NCR's recognition
that more of our day-to-day activities are going to benefit from
reaching out and touching the Internet for core services. And as that
occurs, there are going to be a wealth of opportunities to integrate
access to the Internet into simple, easy-to-use, task-oriented
appliances that seamlessly fit within our lifestyles.
It's all going to be about "choice." Some folks might like this
access built in to their microwave, others might like it above the
icemaker on the refrigerator, or perhaps as a panel above the stove,
or built into a cabinet door, or on their workbench -- or, of course,
through a conventional PC. It's that type of choice, similar to our
being able to purchase a standalone telephone or a bedside clock
radio with one built-in, that seems likely to change the face of the
neighborhood "appliance shop" over the next few years. I guess soon,
when we buy our next appliance, we'll be asked if we want to sign up
for Internet service along with the extended warranty!
Of course in the case of the Microwave Bank, I do wonder if we can
still watch our food as it's cooking -- perhaps the LCD screen
displays the image from a built-in camera when the Microwave Bank is
merely cooking...
--Jeffrey Harrow, The Rapidly Changing Face of Computing
digital.com
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