[citation][nom]zak_mckraken[/nom]Well, I could see 3 uses for this, providing they eventually add a webcam:1. Scan the content of my fridge and show me recipes to do with the food I have.2. Read the expiration date of the packaging and alert me of soon-to-be-spoiled food.3. As mianmian said, show me what I have in the fridge remotely so I know what to pick up at the store after work.Farfetched? Not that much...[/citation]
Not far fetched at all. Barcode scanning has been done with webcams very successfully for ages now (e.g. Delicious Library). You only have two hands after all so can only put one or two items in to the fridge on each move, holding that stuff up to a camera wouldn't take much longer. Even better, maybe packaging could also be sold with rfid chips in to allow wireless scanning of item, expiry etc.
I'm sure we'll end up with this kind of technology within the next 10-25 years. Just a few years ago my girlfriend would often carry a cookbook into the kitchen. Now 9 times out of 10 when she needs a recipe, she carries her laptop in instead.