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On September 23, 1962, the first episode of The Jetsons was aired. Set in 2062, the popular sci-fi cartoon revolved around the day-to-day activities of a nuclear family living in a world where flying cars, spaceships and anthropomorphised robots are common. Among other characters, Rosie the Robot was a fan-favourite for her quirky ways of doing household chores. From cleaning the windows to cooking delicious meals, she could accomplish every task perfectly within seconds.
Today, housekeeping robots are no longer limited to the fictional world. With technology progressing by leaps and bounds, there have been major advancements in the fields of artificial intelligence, machine learning and robotics. Smart homes are no longer just wishful thinking, they have become the reality. Equipped with devices that automate tasks handled otherwise by humans, modern connected homes feature smart lights and appliances, robotic vacuum cleaners and, of course, AI-based smart speakers.
In India too, smart homes are becoming increasingly popular among moms who hardly get time off their hectic schedules. Smart kitchens, for example, are now considered an indispensable part of a modern Indian household. From IoT-enabled refrigerators to automated dishwashers, the demand for smart kitchen appliances is on the rise. Key players in the industry are capitalising on this trend and coming up with new options.
Safety comes first
While convenience is one of the reasons, safety is the primary factor that has fuelled the growth of the smart kitchen appliances industry. Working in kitchens can often be hazardous. However, there are now kitchen appliances with built-in smart features that minimise such dangers. A Wi-Fi-enabled smart stove can send alerts if the burners are left on, saving the house from a serious fire. Similarly, there are appliances that can automatically set cooking temperatures and timers.
A convenient way of cooking
Then comes convenience, another influencing factor. Cooking is a lengthy as well as a time-consuming process as it involves multiple steps. And, at a time when people are always on the lookout for faster ways to complete a task, smart kitchens are the definite solutions. Luckily, with manufacturers now offering an extensive range of connected, automated kitchen appliances, cooking is no longer a tedious task. One can now preheat the oven before leaving work, for example, so it’s ready for the meal by the time they are home.
Facilitates healthy cooking
Smart kitchens are designed to facilitate healthy cooking. There are cooking gadgets that closely monitor the food ingredients that includes checking the fat content and suggesting healthier substitutes of an ingredient. Moreover, smart kitchen appliances help in reducing waste. Smart kitchen appliances are still considered a relatively new category, but the revolution has already begun. Initially accessible to only the upper class of the society, smart kitchens are now drawing customers from the mid-income segment as well. With factors like high disposable incomes, the rise of dual-income households, and increasing affordability of smart devices and kitchen appliances coming into play, more Indians are considering giving their kitchens a smart twist by embracing technology.
(The author is COO, Puresight Systems)