London-based Smarter’s latest product, the FridgeCam, is a connected camera that prevents waste by alerting users when food expiry dates are near.
Smarter began in 2013 with the introduction of the world’s first Wi-Fi-connected kettle. Founder Christian Lane’s goal is to find new ways to make connected kitchens an affordable reality. Being based in England meant that the company’s first product, the smart kettle, had a particular resonance. The iKettle allows users to remotely monitor the amount of water, set a variety of temperatures and create bespoke settings. Water can be boiled specifically for formula baby feeds, and the kettle can be set to turn on at a given time each morning for that all-important first cup of the day.
Smarter’s mission is to make any kitchen smart by helping people more efficiently use their appliances. With the Smarter app, users can link different appliances together to create seamless kitchen operations from afar.
The FridgeCam is the company’s latest product. Created to prevent waste by alerting users whenever food expiration dates are near, the connected camera also provides recipe suggestions based on the current contents of the fridge and it automatically compiles shopping lists.
Magnetically mounted, FridgeCam takes only moments to set up and can be used in any style of refrigerator. Users download the app and then, with personalized notifications, receive an alert just before they run out of a favourite item.
The FridgeCam works by taking a photo of the inside of the refrigerator every time the door closes. Via Wi-Fi, alerts are then sent to everyone in the household who has signed up to the same account. The alerts contain information on which products are nearing expiry, recipes for using those products and reminders to replace frequently used items when supplies are getting low.
The app also compiles shopping lists of recognized favourites, which can be linked to each person’s most-used online grocery store. UK households throw away an average of £700 worth of food each year, which equates to 700 tonnes (772 t.) of waste, more than half of which could have been eaten or drunk. The FridgeCam has been designed specifically to help reduce such waste, as well as save individuals and families significant amounts of money.
In addition to the smart kettle and refrigerator camera, Smarter has designed a smart coffee machine. Smarter Coffee can be set to brew from anywhere in a building and produces cups of coffee exactly to each person’s taste, from strong and dark to light and sweet. It also grinds the beans on demand and can be set to clean itself as per various chosen settings.
Smarter will shortly be introducing the third-generation iKettle and second-generation Smarter Coffee machine. Other products in development include Smarter Mats and the Smarter Detect.
Waste prevention is essential to sustainability, and the food industry is a well-known culprit in not making best use of what is available. A multitude of projects is trying to combat this excessive waste and pollution. Copia is a California-based app that connects homeless shelters with companies that have leftover food, and the Solidarity Fridge in Spain and Brazil’s Street Dish campaign provide ways for people with valuable leftovers to reach directly those in need.
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Website: smarter.am
Contact: claire@smarter.am
Company name: Smarter
Innovation name: FridgeCam
Country: United Kingdom
Industries: Access exclusive / Design / Food / Food beverage / Home garden / Internet Of Things