Are you ready for a smart kitchen?

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Here are 5 reasons why the smart kitchen will be a $10 billion opportunity. 

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Who remembers the Disney Channel hit Smart House? For those who may not recall, the 1999 flick centered around a family who won a computerized house that ends up taking on a life of its own. While some of the features may have been a bit far-fetched, Disney certainly helped paint a clear picture of the kitchen of tomorrow — one in which can learn its owners’ eating habits through atmospheric sensors and whip up beverages and other snacks instantaneously.

Now 15 years later, a Smart House-like future is coming to fruition. As the ever-evolving Internet of Things continues to experience widespread adoption, one of the areas in the smart home that is expected to see the greatest change over the next decade is, indeed, the kitchen. According to a recent report from NextMarket Insights, the result of this burgeoning technology will make way for a $10.1 billion smart kitchen market by 2020. Running out of milk, eggs or cold cuts? Replenish your stock with just a press of a button. The study, which was conducted back in October, found that out of all connected kitchen appliances, many consumers favor refrigerators that’ll allow them to monitor food inventory with their smartphone.

“Whether it’s food storage, preparation, or the act of cooking itself, the arrival of new technologies will enable consumers to become more efficient, knowledgable and possibly even better cooks in coming years,” explained Michael Wolf, NextMarket Insights Chief Analyst. “As a result, we believe that appliance makers, smart home companies as well as those who provide food to consumers will see both enormous opportunity as well as disruption to their existing businesses with the arrival of the smart kitchen.”

Surveying over 500 households, the study revealed that the next-gen technologies are already beginning to alter the way consumers interact, prepare and consume their food. Nearly one-quarter (24%) who were self-proclaimed cooks already use a tablet or smartphone “all the time” when in the kitchen to help them prep meals, while another 34% indicated they use a tablet or smartphone “sometimes.”

“Appliance and device makers are integrating smart features at both the high and low end of the device spectrum,” Wolf adds.

It wasn’t simply the notion of smart fridges that accelerated consumers’ appetites for the IoT era. Other notable devices in the connected kitchen that most appealed to them included smart coffee makers, oven ranges and crock pots.

Writing for Forbes, Wolf recently highlighted a handful of reasons as to why the smart kitchen will, in fact, be a $10 billion opportunity:

1. The technology is already there: Nearly a quarter of cooks already use a mobile device to help in the kitchen.

2. They will reduce waste: With smart kitchen tech, not only can you see what’s in your fridge while mobile, some are beginning to tell us about is about to expire.

3. Technology can make us better cooks: As everything from ovens to thermometers get connected, users will be able to easily tap into cooking guide apps and datasets.

4. They will make us all healthier: Future devices will enable us to closely monitor and synchronize food consumption with our health and fitness routines, as well as help those with very specific dietary restrictions monitor what’s really in our food.

5. They will make us safer: Compliance organizations are already working closely with manufacturers to enable smart connectivity to allow for remote shut off of appliances like stoves and ranges.

So, how close are we to a Jetsons-like world? If it’s up to companies like Whirlpool, GE, LG and Belkin, soon… very soon. While Whirlpool says some of the concepts may only be five years out from ubiquity, others like LG have already started to make the smart kitchen a reality. Take their latest connected fridge for instance, which uses its companion HomeChat app to communicate with an owner’s mobile device to let them know what items are needed while at the grocery store. Using its built-in camera positioned at the top of the main compartment, users can now easily monitor exactly what’s inside their fridge right from their smartphone. Or, GE, who has not only launched a wireless induction cooktop but is retrofitting older appliances with Wi-Fo modules. Another example, Mr. Coffee. Belkin and Jarden joined forces to debut their latest automatic, web-enabled coffee maker. Based on WeMo technology, the 10-cup Mr. Coffee Smart Optimal Brew can be remotely controlled right from bed via from any Android or iOS device.

Intrigued? Here’s a look at just some of the latest once-ordinary kitchen “things” given new “powers.”

This Samsung Talking Fridge can sell itself

Remember when Samsung embedded an ordinary bike with Arduino? Well, the brand is now equipping refrigerators with Arduino units to detect customers and speak to them in real-time.

This new project not only provides customers with a much friendlier shopping experience, but a dynamic and highly-interactive way to explore home appliances as well. Embedded with Atmel based sensors, Samsung’s Talking Fridge seeks to educate users on the features of its latest kitchen gadget, the T9000 Premium Refrigerator.

Tired of salespeople? Luckily, this product can sell itself. Literally! And, take “no” for an answer! As customers flock stores this holiday season, Samsung is providing a less intrusive, personalized experience that will allow shoppers to feel more comfortable as they walk a show floor, checking out the new fridge at their own accord.

How does the fridge work? When movement is sensed in any of the fridge’s interior compartments, the Arduino sensors activate a voice playback that spoke to the shopper and explain the fridge’s individual features and benefits.

A sticker is affixed to the front of the Talking Fridge, which greets customers and instructs them to open the door if they’d like to get to learn more about the appliance. There are other tags inside as well, each with various elements that can be manipulated by customers in order to hear more information about them, including a foldable shelf, an easy slide shelf, and a big box.

There’s even a mobile app alongside the fridge. A tablet located next to the appliance enables users to discover its many features on the app, ranging from smart organization to optimum freshness, while video guides reveal all the other necessary details.

As a recent case study by Creative.Singapore revealed, the average time customers spent with the T9000 fridge was over three minutes and exceeded its sales target by 67%, with 136% increase in brand recall.

Report: 20% of U.S. broadband households to get smart home devices by next year

A new survey released by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and Parks Associates shows continued strong growth of smart home products in U.S. homes, as 20% of households with broadband intend to acquire one or more smart home devices within the next year. The report, entitled “Internet of Things: Smart Home Devices and Controllers,” revealed that nearly half (48%) of those surveyed who own a smart home device are under 35-years-old.

“It makes sense that early adopters of smart home devices tend to be younger, have a high-tech affinity and are four-times as likely to buy new technology as soon as it is available,” explained Steve Koenig, CEA’s Director of Industry Analysis. “More than half of smart home device owners say they want to use technology as a way to create more time with their family.”

Through its embedded microcontrollers, smart home devices and systems are equipped with processing intelligence, and connected to the Internet through a home network for remote access, monitoring and control capabilities. While 13% of broadband households own at least one smart home device, the survey found unit sales of devices like smart thermostats, door locks, smoke detectors and light switches will continue to offer high-growth rates. In 2014 alone, these types of smart home devices will reach 20.7 million units, while set to increase to 35.9 million units by 2017.

“Now is the time for the industry to deliver on the promise of better, easier-to-use products, systems and services to help consumers manage their homes,” stated Tricia Parks, CEO of Parks Associates. “Roughly one-third of smart device owners spent more than one month shopping around. Manufactures and service providers must engage and educate the consumer during that purchase process if they want to capture them.”

According to the research, consumers have the highest intention to purchase smart lights (16%) and smart thermostats (16%). Overall, nearly two-thirds seek to purchase a smart device that will communicate with another smart device. As the number of smart devices in a household increases, as will the importance of interoperability. In fact, 60% of owners with three or more devices say interoperability is “very important.”

The point of purchase varies, but a majority of smart devices are bought through a retailer or given as a gift. Smart door locks (27%), smoke detectors (25%), and garage door openers (24%) were the most gifted smart home device. Additionally, smart door locks (38%), home or kitchen appliances (34%), and power strips (33%) were among the smart devices most often purchased from a national or local retailer.

Those interested in learning more can download the entire study here.

Let’s Make the world a better place

It was 1974 when tech pioneer Ted Nelson first asked a nascent industry to hand over “computer power to the people.” A few years later, Commodore founder Jack Tramiel expressed similar sentiments, proclaiming that “we need to build computers for the masses, not the classes.”

As we’ve previously discussed on Bits & Pieces, empowering individuals and communities is a core value of the international Maker Movement. Makers, with an open source philosophy, affordable technology and “can do” attitude, are truly helping to make the world a better place.

Indeed, medical implants designed with 3D printers (long championed by Makers) are saving lives, while 3D printed prosthetics allow physicians to restore physical capabilities lost in accidents or at birth.

Makers are also active in agriculture to ensure an organic, green and sustainable food supply for us all. To be sure, Atmel-based Arduino boards are currently being used to facilitate a plethora of open source platforms tasked with regulating everything from urban-based aquaponics to rural greenhouses constructed out of recyclable materials.

Photo Credit: Scott Taylor, Sun Journal

In addition, Makers are at the forefront of reversing bee colony collapse disorder, with the Atmel-powered (ATmega32U4 MCU) Smart Citizen Kit (SCK) currently monitoring 3D-printed hives around the world.

Unsurprisingly, Makers looking to the future are designing open source home automation platforms to help individuals conserve water and reduce energy consumption by linking various “smart” appliances to the rapidly evolving Internet of Things.

Last, but certainly not least, open source Arduino boards used by Makers across the globe are an important tool for the STEM community (science, technology, education and mathematics), with science and computing teachers in secondary schools and universities choosing the popular platform to teach students the basic principles of programming and computational thinking.

We at Atmel are proud to be at the very heart of the Maker Movement, with microcontrollers that power a wide range of open source platforms and devices, from 3D printers to Arduino boards. For us, Maker Faire is one of the Greatest Show (and Tell) on Earth – a family-friendly showcase of invention, creativity, resourcefulness and a celebration of DIY culture. Simply put, it’s a place where people of all ages and backgrounds gather together to show what they are making and share what they are learning.

So be sure to drop by the Atmel booth (#205) at Maker Faire Bay Area on May 17th and 18th to meet our star-studded lineup of Makers and presenters, including Mel Li, Trevor Zylstra, Quin Etnyre, Pamungkas Prawisuda Sumasta, Super Awesome Sylvia, Matt Johnson, Bob Martin and Dan Ujvari.

Can’t make it to the Faire? You can follow @Atmel live on Twitter for event updates, or join the conversation by tweeting #AtmelMakes.

Smartphones Powering the Internet of Things

Good piece today from Peter Yared, CTO of CBS Interactive, in Venture Beat. Yared’s key point is that smartphones are controlling a greater amount of devices inside–and outside–of the home. He writes, “It is likely that every room of a home will have a 4” or 7” smart device mounted as a control panel for lights, music, and more. Soon, “flipping a light switch” will sound as archaic as “dialing a telephone”.”

Part of what’s making this possible, says Yared, is the underlying technology. From embedded controllers–and we’d count Atmel maXTouch touchscreen controllers in this mix–to easy-to-use, low-cost platforms like Arduino, based on Atmel megaAVR microcontrollers, and Raspberry Pi, these technologies are making it easier and faster to create feature-rich smartphones as well as other touch-based and web-enabled devices. With these robust technologies and a lot of engineering ingenuity, consumers can now bring into their homes unique, smartphone-controlled products, from door locks to home theater systems. The same transformation is happening with today’s vehicles, where manufacturers now have the technology to bring the smartphone experience to drivers.

And this is why so many are calling this the era of The Internet of Things. Before long, according to The Internet of Things proponents, web-enabled devices and products will outnumber people on our planet. More and more of these “machines” will be able to take in data, apply smart analytics and algorithms, and take action, without our intervention.

Have you brought the smartphone experience into your car or home? What types of web-enabled products are most prominent in your life today?