February 3rd at #KBtribechat: Integrating Technology in Kitchens and Baths

hosted by Paula Kennedy CMKBD, CAPS, CACC

We are learning a lot about Home Integration, the Connected Home, Smart Homes and smart spaces. In the Kitchen and Bath Industry we work in unique spaces that are rich for many forms of technology, connectedness and integration. Currently, I am very frustrated with the technology I use and how I am constantly “tethered” to cords and outlets, in today’s day and age, why am I limited to the life of a battery!! I am not an expert at any of this but am hungry to learn more!

The word Integration means a coordination of processes, united, to have a sense of seamlessness. We want these features to seem like they were always there, a part of our life, easy, unassuming, freeing us up to focus on what is more important in our lives. True integration should be invisible. And Technology shouldn’t exist just to exist; it should be something that makes our lives easier . . . . to create a better quality of life. I can’t help but immediately think about Healthy Living and Accessible Living in the spaces we design every day.

A few of my favorite things I saw at #KBIS2016 this year are:
• Lenova AquaLogic faucet (Ozone anti-microbial  disinfectant)
• http://www.irinoxusa.com/blast-chilling-shock-freezing-game-changer-modern-club-kitchen/
• Irinox Freddy & Zero (Wall appliance) (Purcell Murray)
• Blast chilling, shock freezing, low temp cook, thaw heat and hold, leaven and proof
• http://www.irinoxusa.com/blast-chilling-shock-freezing-game-changer-modern-club-kitchen/
• Urban Cultivator (Herb growing indoor appliance)
• http://www.urbancultivator.net/
• Delta’s Leak Detection, partnered with iDevices through an app to inform you of leaks in the home
• http://www.deltafaucet.com/leakdetection

But this is such a broader topic! I attended the session at the NKBA Stage at KBIS to listen to Michael Wolf and a panel who had been part of the Smart Kitchen Summit in Seattle this last summer. Imagine these ideas coming to our homes in the future, and some in the not so distant future . . .

• Zuckerberg building a Robot Butler like Jarvis
• Amazon Echo – voice commands
• Hands free speech directions (in the kitchen, hands are messy, you are dicing onions! “Turn down the heat on burner #2”)
• Food talking to us! Not only what our inventory is, but about its contents, is it gluten free?
• Homeowners are already using services like Amazon Fresh, Blue Apron, Amazon Dash Replenishment
• (http://www.zacks.com/stock/news/204415/amazon-dash-replenishment-service-commences)
• Auto Order when inventory low.
• You posted a dinner party in your calendar and linked a menu, a week in advance Amazon prepares the shopping cart and sends you a message to order items!
• Become The Kitchen Hero, using technology to become a Super Chef
• Recharge your devices on the counter! It’s already here.
• Camera in the oven or over the cooktop, step away to let the dog in or go answer the front door and let your mobile app show you if the pot is boiling over.

I’ve been learning a lot from Eric Schimelpfenig as well, check out the article he wrote.

Read this article on Houzz about what a company in California, Intel Corp, is working on.

At #KBIS2016 this year the Virginia Tech Center for Design Research was at it again! Did you check out the futureHaus Kitchen last year? Did you see the futureHaus Bathroom this year?
• The vanity raised and lowered to height and needs of user
• The bathroom scale was hidden under glass tile in the floor, sensors digitally displayed up on the mirror

Paula’s KBtribechat Questions – 

Q1. What does Integrated or Smart mean to you in the Kitchen & Bath?

Q2. What are the products that you’ve discovered recently, even at KBIS that fit into this broad category?

Q3. Do you have any frustrations with this topic or only excitement?

Q4. Where are you getting educated to keep ahead of our clients?

Q5. Will this integration and technology change the design of the kitchen and bath, and how we design these spaces?

Join this Twitter Chat discussion

on Wednesday, February 3rd

from 2 to 3pm eastern time

by adding #KBtribechat to your tweets!

Here’s the transcript for this KBtribechat.