Yes, ladies & gentlemen, the future of kitchen is here. But before you get so interested in the future, let me be clear on one thing from the start. The future doesn’t mean high tech and flashy stuff only. The future also means overpopulation, emphasis on recycling and balanced dieting. So, here we present you with the model of kitchen 2025. The model has been based on assumptions and predictions regarding the developments, limitations and thinking of the future. It was a team effort between students of Eindhoven University, Netherlands and Lund University, Sweden along with design firm IDEO from UK.
The assumptions we talked about centered on limited resources, energy available and an ageing Western population with a lesser number of children. People are living in big cities in small apartments. Majority people are working from home, and groceries are delivered to our doorsteps. Computers and other gadgets are omnipresent but invisible from the observing eye. Except for the array of screens and holograms every here and there.
The accuracy of these assumptions isn’t important as the vision of the kitchen 2025 also urges the user towards an energy efficient greener life. The concept kitchen is nothing like the laboratory themed kitchens from the 50s and 60s. The students brainstormed ideas after keeping in mind the limitations of the future and then the IDEO converts these ideas into workable prototypes. The plethora of ideas might be difficult to discuss here but let’s look at the futuristic table they produce here:
Above the table is an interactive smart surface having a small camera and a projector. When you place the raw food on the table, it will automatically scan it, identify it and immediately suggest different suggestions to use it in different recipes. Induction coils present at the bottom of the table can be controlled by the computer interface to provide heat if needed be.
The storage compartment looks like a store shelf more than a compartment as weekly shopping will be a thing of the past by then. Instead, the fast delivery with the help of drones is envisaged. The shelves seem low-tech and not useful for keeping the products cool, but in fact they will have hidden sensors and smart induction cooling systems. The covers are transparent, and RFID tags ensure that the user can keep an eye on the temperature requirement of the food. There are several terracotta containers for potatoes, onions and other raw vegetables.
Once you are done with the last meal, a thoughtful disposal system takes over. The rubbish is scanned, and the recyclable stuff is separated and sent into separate containers. If the non-recyclable material is more than the limit, the user is reprimanded by the system. The waste is then compressed and packed into a tight polymer tube. Same is the case of the sink. The sink refuse is shrunk into a singular mass called puck that is then collected by the government for disposal.
IKEA has announced that the futuristic concepts will be sued in the future designing of kitchens. The green, energy efficient system might not even be that far ahead as the majority of the tech is already here. Just some sociological and technological improvements are needed. Have a look at the video here and decide for yourself:
