New Microsoft fridge tells you what to stock up on

MICROSOFT has teamed up with refrigerator company, Liebherr, to create a new “SmartDeviceBox” that reminds people which foods they need to stock up on.

In a blog post, Microsoft’s principal data scientist, Timothy Hazen, said the “SmartDeviceBox” would take the appliance “beyond cooling comestibles”.

The “SmartDeviceBox” is an internet-connected device that uses cameras and object recognition to track what is in a fridge. It uses the same technology used in Microsoft’s Cortana.

It keeps an inventory list of what is in the fridge, which can be managed through your smartphone, tablet or other device. This allows users to monitor which foods they have, without even touching the fridge.

Hazen said: “This information flows automatically into an inventory list, which lets the customer see quickly and clearly what is in the refrigerator from anywhere.

“Using the ‘SmartDeviceBox’ voice module, additional groceries can be added to a shopping list that customers can access when on the move using an app for iOS, Android or Windows devices.”

If problems occur, users will be notified by means of an alarm message directly to their smartphone or tablet. The system is still a prototype and the technology is still being improved. It is unclear when the SmartDeviceBox will be available. – Daily Mail