I’m vastly disappointed with refrigerator manufacturers. They just aren’t learning the lesson that nearly killed Kodak.
Kodak considered themselves in competition with Nikon, never realizing Apple or Google would put them out of business.
Apple changed the telephone from a lowly desktop feature into a pocket computer encompassing a camera, contacts, calendar, and funny-video sharing device. Kodak never saw them coming. Kodak never even thought to look in that direction.
Kodak isn’t the only one. With internet streaming, VCRs became obsolete. Main frame computers took a hit from desktop and laptops. Operating a slide rule is a party trick to impress your friends.
It’s called disruptive technology. It’s the boogeyman of any company selling a product, and it’s where I write science fiction.
Writing science fiction gives me a vehicle to stretch my imagination. The stories I write start with common places and things, then I extrapolate them out to the future.
In Stupid Machine I wrote a murder mystery about refrigerators. Thusly, I have a lot of interest in refrigerators. It’s why I’m disappointed.
Stupid Machine starts with a refrigerator connected to (owned by) a grocery store. Its task is to maintain a basic inventory of ingredients. If you drink the orange juice, the refrigerator will order more. When it isn’t able to perform that task, it follows its programming to diagnose and solve the problem.
I look for articles or research on appliance technology, hoping to find something which doesn’t look like a refrigerator but will replace the need for a refrigerator.
But instead of reimagining the refrigerator, manufacturers add obvious features and call it good. So far, all I find is videos like this…
Honestly, any high school electronics student could add a camera, computer, AI board, and display screen to their refrigerator. Hell – I added a computer to a Big Mouth Billy Bass. You can order these parts on line. They aren’t that hard to connect and program. Manufacturers are doing the obvious stuff.
Disruptive Technology isn’t obvious.
What I Want
Here’s a quote about innovation:
“Some people say, “Give the customers what they want.” Our job is to figure out what they’re going to want before they do. I think Henry Ford once said, “If I’d asked customers what they wanted, they would have told me, ‘A FASTER HORSE!’ People don’t know what they want until you show it to them. Our task is to read things that are not yet on the page.
Steve Jobs
I don’t want a colder refrigerator. I don’t want a glorified iPad. I’m waiting to be shown a new device.
- Read the product bar code when I put something in the fridge
- Don’t make me figure out if this product needs refrigeration or freezing and to choose the right compartment. For that matter, maintain the proper temperature for each item. Cool milk to 37 degree F. Eggs below 40 degrees (but not freezing). Pickles at 34 degrees. You figure it out.
- When something runs out, reorder it. Get it shipped to me. I’m too busy to go shopping.
- Plan my weekly menu. If I’m having guests over on Friday night, be sure there is enough guacamole dip for six people. If I will not be around for the week, don’t order ice cream (until I get home). If I like brussels sprouts, make sure I get them at least once a month.
- Use one-tenth of the energy of my current refrigerator.
- Occupy one-half of the space of my current refrigerator.
- If the refrigerator breaks, fix it before everything spoils.
Stop asking what I want. Give me what I need.
Your thoughts?