Re: Talking to myself

On Sat, 22 Sep 2007 10:43:55 -0700, Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@xxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

"Tim Williams" <tmoranwms@xxxxxxxxxxx> hath wroth:

I wonder what's in the refrigerator right now.
Tim

Been there, done that. At one time, I had a PTZ TV camera and IR
illuminator inside the fridge. The idea was to be able to inspect the
contents of the fridge while still at my office, thus eliminating the
need to document a shopping list before running out the door (late) in
the mornings. However, my fridge was not organized in any manner
suitable for remote inventory control. It would require at least 4
cameras to cover the volume, not including the freezer. There were
also technical problems, such as water condensing on the circuit
boards, and ripping the components off the board when the water turned
to ice. The PTZ mechanics also tended to freeze. Due to the short
distances involved, an auto-focus lens was required, which also tended
to freeze. I gave up years ago.

However, the idea refuses to die. Internet Refridgerator by
Whirlpool:
<http://www.whirlpool.com/content.jsp?sectionId=1038>
I can't tell if it has an internal camera, but it has an LCD display,
MP3 player, and some manner of computah. A camera could be easily
added.

The Electrolux Screen Fridge:
<http://www.appliancist.com/refrigerators/electrolux-screen-fridge.html>
No camera feature that I could find, but it's a start.

LG and others have also introduced such refridgerators:
<http://www.caslon.com.au/fridgenote.htm>
Also no camera.

Well, you may have sellable idea. However, it's already been patented
by LG:
<http://www.google.com/patents?id=OZcJAAAAEBAJ&dq=refrigerator+camera>


Without thinking about it too much, I wonder if a bar code scanner
code put to use for tracking food in and out of the fridge?
Beep! Steak out.
Beep! Pickles out.
Beep! Pickles in..
Beep! Margarine out.
Beep! Margarine in.
Beep! Milk out..
Beep! Milk back in...
Sure...the milk might be nearly empty but there's at least a container
of some amount milk in there. :)


D from BC
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Talking to myself
    ... Beep! ... Milk back in... ... I saw one in a restaurant fridge that was ... You know you're not rich when tracking fridge food is a problem... ...
    (sci.electronics.design)
  • Re: Talking to myself
    ... Beep! ... Milk back in... ... I saw one in a restaurant fridge that was ... You know you're not rich when tracking fridge food is a problem... ...
    (sci.electronics.design)
  • Re: Talking to myself
    ... Beep! ... Milk back in... ... I saw one in a restaurant fridge that was ... track the foods you use, how often you restock your refrigerator ...
    (sci.electronics.design)
  • Re: Talking to myself
    ... I had a PTZ TV camera and IR ... illuminator inside the fridge. ... The PTZ mechanics also tended to freeze. ...
    (sci.electronics.design)
  • Re: Camlynx camera link.
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