Smart Fridge?
- brenda chan
- Aug 26, 2019
- 2 min read
Updated: Sep 3, 2019
What exactly is the Internet of Things (IoT)?
It is basically connecting any device with an on and off switch to the Internet and/or to each other. This includes everything from mobile phones, washing machines, wearable devices, printers and almost anything else you can think of. Analyst firm, Gartner, says that there will be over 26 billion connected devices by 2020.... THAT'S A LOT OF CONNECTIONS!!
One particular device that intrigued me was the Family Hub™ refrigerator by Samsung. It is an award-winning fridge and it sets a completely new standard of connected living.
The Family Hub™ fridge helps with the food management of your household. It comes with 3 built-in cameras that will take pictures of what's inside your fridge and send it to your mobile device. Thanks to this new fridge, you'd now be able to plan your meals. So from now on when you're at the supermarket, there's no need to wonder if you have any eggs left in your fridge. Plus nobody will ever get mad at you again because you forgot to buy their favourite cheesecake since you'd get an alert. On the other hand, it helps your family avoid wasting food by managing expiry dates. This is how it works.... It offers an application that appears on the screen depending on the time selected for each product and you will receive a notification when it's time to eat the product. Amazing right?
But guess what? Samsung didn't stop the innovation there and went ahead to include a 21.5" interactive screen that allows you to watch your favourite shows or listen to music via Spotify. With a swipe of your finger, you can even schedule and see your family's agenda or access recipes online. With its built-in voice control system, this fridge helps navigate apps hands-free while in the midst of cooking or help read out your day's agenda. Connected to your doorbell and house security camera, you can even check who's at the door while you're in the kitchen and communicate with them through your fridge.
Family Hub™ is definitely more than just a fridge! It truly brings about a whole new kitchen experience.
A smart fridge is only just the beginning for the IoT. As we continue to educate ourselves about what is the IoT is and its potential impacts that can be seen on how we work and live, there are going to be so many more opportunities for various devices to join the IoT.
Hi Darius! Thank you for your comment. 😊
I do believe that with the increase in IoT usage, our data privacy are threatened as more and more devices join the network and share data. The data points collected through our devices could potentially be shared among a huge number of different network participants. And because of that, managing and protecting user's private data would be a challenge. There is a high chance that hackers could have access to our data and are being sold to third parties. However despite the risks, many would still choose to buy the latest gadgets to keep up with trends without realizing the risks involved. Do let me know what you think!
Previously I only had a little bit of knowledge on IoT, but this article made everything much more clearer. I believe IoT will only get bigger with time. But do you think we with so many devices connected, our data privacy will be threaten ?
Hi Peili! Thank you for your comment again.
I do agree that we are too reliant on technology. In this day and age, technology is a part of our lives and we rely on it. Personally, I am not able to survive without the help of technology as I use it for various reasons. I believe that many students rely on technology when studying as a vast number of information can be found online too. Is it bad? I don't think so as long as we're using technology for the right reasons. If we use technology as a tool instead of a way to escape reality, it is fine. However there are many others who overuse technology and get addicted…
Hello Brenda! A very informative read!
IoT devices like Family Hub™ refrigerator by Samsung brings convenience to daily life. However, this news article (https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/12hr-42min-connected-for-hours) reported that Singaporeans spend an average of 12 hr 42 min a day on gadgets. But do you agree that we are too reliant on technology? Do you think that reliance on technology is a bad thing? Look forward to hearing from you! Cheers!
P.S. In my recent blog post, I discussed about IoT device too! Do check it out! 😊