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IBM's Advanced PvC Technology Laboratory

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the thats-pretty-surreal dept.

ShellDawg writes "IBM had this really nice article article which showcases their new pervasive computing technologies lab in Austin, Texas. Gadgets which let you control everything in a room from light bulbs (which have assigned URL's )to smart kitchen-tops to a wireless enabled car. There's even a refrigerator that has a display which projects an image of whats inside without opening the doors." I for one am the first to sign up for this. I'm tired of opening the door just to realize that I'm out of everything except baking soda and butter. Mmmm. Butter.

8 of 79 comments (clear)

  1. I mean, really... by JanneM · · Score: 3

    what is it with IT people and refridgerators?? By now I've seen 'glimpses of the futuer' with refridgerators being net-terminals, being able to automagically tell what's inside it, suggesting recipies, being a 'home communication nexus' (i.e. replacing notes and magnets with an internal email system), being karaeoke machines, displaying its contents, ad nauseaum. It seems, if it's doable on a screen, our refridgerators will do it. People, there's a _reason_ mankind invented desks, and desktop computers to put on them. Do you _really_ need to play Quake, surf for pr0n and check your stock portfolio in front of your fridge?

    Besides, I bet the screen will go all strange once the users start placing a few refridgerator magnets on it :)

    /Janne

    --
    Trust the Computer. The Computer is your friend.
  2. My fridge contents by Restil · · Score: 3

    I have a barcode scanner set up next to my fridge so I can keep an inventory of whats in there. Its still quite buggy, but thats what a work in progress is, after all. :)

    If you want to see, check it out at
    http://206.54.177.105/cgi-bin/barcodehtml.cgi

    -Restil

    --
    Play with my webcams and lights here
  3. IBM pvc? by Ukab+the+Great · · Score: 5

    IBM has a pvc lab? Is this that "smart pipes" techology everyone has been talking about?

  4. Seems familiar.. by Carnage4Life · · Score: 4

    This looks like a marketer's version of the Georgia Tech Aware Home Research Initiative which is more about building a house that is actually smart instead of just blindly adding IPs addresses and remote controls to a bunch of household devices.

    --

  5. Re:Peekaboo Fridge by jedwards · · Score: 3

    They don't need to come over. http://fridge.kitchen.sparcv9.home

  6. Light Bulbs? by Alien54 · · Score: 4
    which let you control everything in a room from light bulbs (which have assigned URL's )

    I can see toasters and coffepot weeb cams with IP numbers.

    but light bulbs? Like we can't run out of IPV6 space fast enough already.

    sheesh!

    ;-)

    Check out the Vinny the Vampire comic strip

    --
    "It is a greater offense to steal men's labor, than their clothes"
  7. bah by Blymie · · Score: 4

    "There's even a refrigerator that has a display which projects an image of whats inside without opening the doors." For fuck sakes, anyone ever hear of glass?

  8. it's so obvious... by m08593 · · Score: 4
    That's it's already here. Many devices in our homes have microprocessors. Of course, they will get networked when it makes sense to do so and when it becomes cost effective. If you are willing to pay for it, you can get that kind of functionality already: go to places like SmartHome and X10.

    Some of them make a lot of sense: remote access to temperature and lights in the home can be useful. Others don't. For example, I don't think more automation in the kitchen does much good: people would probably benefit more from a healthy relationship with food (cooking themselves with fresh ingredients) than minute tracking of soft drinks and junk food. And short of automated driving and road following, I don't really need or want any additional gadgets in my car.