Smart pantry

Sawubona~

Good day everyone. Hope you guys (and gals) are doing well. I was just back from the CEPSI 2018 convention in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. For those who don't know, CEPSI is the biggest and the most prominent electricity supply industry conference in East Asia and the Western Pacific region. This is a must-attend event for the electricity supply industry players as it is held every two years. 

The convention was a great eye opener to check on all the latest technology in electrical equipment such as switchgears, inverters, capacitor banks and others. Another great thing about this year's convention is it emphasize on the Internet of Things. It was great to see that we are going towards smart technologies in our daily life. As I was walking through the hall, there were a few pantries for people to network. As I was talking with new partners, my head was spinning with an idea, can we also apply the Internet of Things into our pantry at offices?

What Makes A Pantry Smart?

The smart pantry is a modular system and can be adjusted to the different consumers needs. This base can make use of a different combination of modules to keep an updated list of the commodities in your pantry. A bar-code reader module will be a convenient way to scan all packaging that arrives from the shop as it is stored in the pantry and also all packaging as it is thrown to the trash (a mobile phone or tablet may be used as bar-code reader module). A weighing station module will enable communication through IoT with small weight sensors that can be placed under strategic commodities that will be tracked by weight. A touch screen module can be added to allow simple manipulation of the current shopping list (adding and removing items as well as a scheduling mechanism). he back-end will use machine learning to analyze your past behavior and to try and make "smart" decisions based on this behavior and the information obtained from the different modules. The combination of these means and other modules that could be added later should make the task of keeping tabs on current pantry levels more manageable.

How Does It Work?

A smart pantry uses built-in sensors to track how much of a particular item you have. For example, just put your favorite granola bars straight into the container and select the item in the accompanying app. When you start running low, the container (through a Wi-Fi connection) works with the smart app to order more straight to your pantry. The system works without the step of you pushing a button to place an order. The process is completely automated, so you don’t have to think about checking how many coffee pods you have left. The app is smart enough to learn your consumption habits, so it can order more of your favorite food before you even realize you’re running low. 

So the final conclusion is..?

Smart pantries can make meal planning and preparation more efficient and enjoyable. For example, while you are at the grocery store, cameras in an interactive pantry, or smart shelves that can scan RFID tags, can count items and determine what is already there so you can purchase only the items you need. An interactive pantry can scan the contents of shelves to create a recipe using available ingredients. 

While most IoT technology can be used to track inventory, other innovations can help people stay healthy. With the use of scanners and cameras, interactive pantries can evaluate nutritional labels on products, helping users stick to calorie counts or other dietary requirements. The interactive pantry can make nutritional suggestions to help users get recommended daily allowance of proteins and vitamins. Food-borne illnesses and spoilage can be a serious health problem. Instead of keeping track of individual expiration labels, consumers can use smart pantries equipped with scanners that alert them when food should be disposed of.

As more companies focus integrating IoT innovations in the kitchen, the range of appliances and products is increasing. By connecting smart pantries to mobile devices, companies will be better able to help their employees and customers to improve food selection and promote healthier lifestyles.

Smart kettle

Selamat Merdeka ~

Good day everyone, how is your long weekend? Must be enjoying with your family or close ones. In fact, I was on holiday with my family at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and they were celebrating the 61st National Day of Malaysia. It was a grand celebration especially when you get to see people from different races come together and put their differences aside to make sure everyone is enjoying the birthday of Malaysia.

While we were there, we stayed in a hotel and as you know, all the basic necessities are available to us. Then as we use their kettle to cook water, I was wondering if there is any smart kettle that makes part of IoT more interesting to the smart homes. So after I have gone back to my home, I try to find out more of this smart kettle and this is what information that I have.

What Is A Smart Kettle

Usually early in the morning, at the moment when you awake, you would like your coffee to be readily available to you. It's like having a personal barista in your home, ready to take your order. Well, the Internet of Things which we like to call it IoT has push the boundaries of what it can do, what it can help us to enjoy that first sip of coffee as soon as we roll out of bed. A smart kettle is a fantastic (almost magical) device, that boils whenever you tell it to – or whenever a certain chain of events trigger. 

How Does It Work?

Ok, so it isn’t actually magic. It’s a complicated combination of wires, technology, and a motherboard or two that makes this WiFi kettle work. All you need to know, is how fantastically simple it is to use. It can actually be

• Connects to with WiFi
• Connects to Alexa, IFTTT
• Can be controlled by Nest, Phillips Hue, and Hive
• Can be operated via an Android or iOS app

On the base, is where you have your controls for the Power Switch, WiFi Toggle, Temperature Control, and Keep Warm functions. With the LED display, you can clearly see what temperature you have it set to. it remembers the previous temperature it boiled to – fantastic if you need water of a specific temperature (such as for heating baby bottles). As you can set the temperature your kettle boils to, you make it much more energy efficient, as they are no longer boiling for boilings sake.

Why Do You Want A Smart Kettle?

Now there will always be a question where we will ask why would we choose to have a kettle on the WiFi when we could just switch it on at the wall? Actually it makes our life easier. As long as there is water, we will have hot drinks no matter where we are. We  really can boil your kettle no matter the distance since the WiFI and IoT are everywhere. We’re always connected to the smart kettle. Ideal for when we are nearly home, about to leave the office or are too tired to get out of bed and wait for it to boil. With volume sensing, it uniquely starts water heating before the time scheduled, ready for when you arrive.

Should We Invest In Smart Kettle?

The beauty of a smart kettle is how you can connect it to everything. And I mean everything. With the innovative use of IFTTT, you can set it so your kettle will start boiling when your Phillips Hue lights switch on. Or when your Nest SmartStat senses your home is getting a little chilly, and a hot drink wouldn’t go amiss. You can even set it to boil if you get tagged in a photo on Facebook. For tech lovers, this smart kettle is a dream and the latest addition in creating a fully connected home.