Saw some notes on Marc Cantor’s blog about the internet fridge. The best concept seems to be a fridge from GE that adjusts its settings and reduces power consumption based on pricing signals from the electricity company. However, this depends on smart meter technology, yet to be deployed in most areas (supposed to be deployed in the Bay Area within the next year or so).
The usability features revolve around the idea of the fridge tracking it’s contents via RFID tags and experimental models, which include a computer and RFID sensors, seem to miss the mark, not to mention, drive up the cost of the fridge.
Why would the fridge need an embedded computer? Couldn’t it just be another device hanging off of the home network along with energy sensors, water meters, security cameras, etc.
