If you’ve ever found yourself getting that rumbling stomach feeling at your desk but are too busy – or simply too lazy – to get up and go to the kitchen, British designer Steve Gates may have the answer for you: the BrainWave desktop microwave.
The compact, desk-bound concept device – showcased over on the Yanko Design web magazine site – is designed to connect to the mains for power in much the same way as a traditional microwave oven, but also hooks in to your PC or laptop via a USB cable.
It’s this connectivity to the PC that gives the device a certain intelligence – and also introduces what could be the first recorded example of digital rights management, or DRM, for TV dinners.
Rather that re-heat ordinary food, Gates’ concept for the device is to sell specially-designed ready-to-eat meals in packaging designed to fit precisely in the compact oven – and sold with an included plastic fork – or spoon, depending on the meal chosen – which is tagged with a coded RFID chip. When scanned by the included RFID reader built into the microwave, the unique code is transmitted to the PC which then automatically programs the microwave oven with the correct power and timing information to reheat the meal to perfection. During cooking, the included software shows a countdown timer – allowing the user to figure out exactly when their tasty lunch will be ready to eat.
Gates has clearly imagined the device to be used by busy professionals at their desk, as the BrainWave can be tilted upright when not in use – in which position it doubles as a handy, if somewhat small, dry-wipe noticeboard. Despite its office-friendly appearance, if the gadget is used anywhere except a home office the smells are almost certain to irritate surrounding co-workers.
Although the device relies on the user both liking the taste of re-heated TV dinners and having enough spare time to head to the shop and pick up the special meals, it’s still a novel concept, and one which could potentially spell the end of grabbing yet another packet of crisps or a disappointing sandwich during a hectic day.
Sadly – or happily, depending on your particular stance on cooking smells wafting around the office – Gates’ device remains a concept, with no plans for the BrainWave smart microwave oven to be put into production yet announced.
