When it comes to the next technological innovation that will transform our lives, we have traditionally envisaged rocket packs and flying cars rather than household appliances. But at the recent US Consumer Electronics Show – the oracle of impending tech products – the item that wowed the crowd was a smart refrigerator .
For $5,000 (Dh18,363), consumers get a fridge with internal cameras to warn when stocks of milk and bread are running low. A touchscreen on the front and Wi-Fi capability means that users cannot just get recipe ideas but also send a message to the local grocery ordering replacements without having to leave their kitchen.
Admittedly the UAE’s squads of delivery people, who bring whatever is needed from the local shop at any time of day, make this feature somewhat redundant here. But a local version might offer us an easier life: warning when the hummus is on the turn or how long before that leftover takeaway curry should be thrown out.
