Pi encourages people to work around the countertop, facing each other encouraging interaction during the process of cooking. If cooking by oneself, Pi is accessible from both outside and inside and one can stand within the unit, bringing all the utilities within reach. This increases productivity, reduces time.
The structure of Pi encourages the distribution of work a people stand around.
Sharing happens even when you aren’t entertaining guests. One can virtually cook with friends and family, as well as share recipes of the healthy meals, inspiring others to eat the same.
It provides spaces for the entire family to contribute. The screen also acts as an entertainment device, to interest people to spend more time with each other while cooking healthy meals.
Pi can analyse the quantity of food that you require, assess its nutritional value, and suggest foods to balance ones diet. It remembers the previous meals and can tell the kind of exercise one would require burning those calories.
The form and structure of Pi represents togetherness. The space around the countertop converts into the dining area, celebrating the time spent making the meal, and saving space. The collapsible table serves as a casual dining area.
The colours subtly highlight the details and parts of the kitchen.
The flow of the countertop surface makes it welcoming.
The four modular parts of Pi, each having an individual function of washing, preparation, cooking and serving.
The storage spaces and integrated appliances open by touch. The hand is placed at the designated space on the door to activate the sensor.
Interaction with Pi happens through touch as well as voice commands. You can tell Pi to read out recipes while you cook.
The cutting board and tray can also be used for drying utensils. Flipping over the cutting board, provides a surface for draining water.
The tap works on sensor that knows when you are washing utensils and regulates the flow to conserve water. It can be pulled out for ease of cleaning.
The sink has two steps to accommodate the colander and the cutting board, so that the board can also go over the colander.
The pull out table is highlighted by its colour. There is a groove provided under the table for pulling it out easily.
The interfaces on the surface have options for controlling the sharing, storing, preparation, nutrition options as well as appliances like cooktop.
Details of the interface:Many options interconnect to allow easy navigation. The icons at each corner can get you back to main page.
The flow of getting people together for a group virtual cooking session. During this, one can share data like recipes or the day's nutritional diet.
The various ways of searching for stored or online information: name, image, ingredients, people, recipe.
One can check the nutritional content of recipes, scale it up for more people, or ask Pi to read it aloud. Create your own recipes by speaking to Pi.
The list of ingredients and food products at home can be used to choose recipes, shop directly for groceries or download shopping lists.
Placing food on the interactive surface shows quantity and nutrients of the food. It can be added to the overall diet of the meal, day or individual.
It displays nutrition intake and requirement, tells you what to eat more of, suggests meals, keeping you healthy. Exercise routines can be synced.
It calculates the quantity of ingredients required when you have guests. Pi suggests meals based on available ingredients, daily routine and diet.
Second interface contains controls for the induction cooktop and for managing other appliances. All interfaces can be transferred onto the tv screen.
Pi considers the scenarios where one would be cooking alone, with family or on occasions when friends and family visit. Understanding how people want to cook when together and by themselves, Pi serves not only the basic needs of the kitchen, but also acts as a platform to entertain and multi-task.
Development has been done based on the aspects of user needs, usability and ergonomics, on the three core elements of the design: the Furniture (and shape), the Technology (wanting to know what foods are suitable and wanting to know what you eat) and the Psychology (influencing the lifestyle, catering to peoples aspirations).
The main utilities are grouped in the centre. Proximity is based on the process of cooking. The counter is divided into four major work centres: cleaning and washing, preparation, cooking, serving and appliance space. Additional storage is provided separately on the sides. These parts can be re-arranged based on the constraints of the kitchen space. It allows the user the freedom of modular units, to set up the kitchen in different ways.
The preparation area has a provision to calculate the nutritional value of the food, multiply the ingredients of a chosen recipe to suit the number of people, guide you through the cooking process and keep time. This process informs you when you have cut enough ingredients, cooked the food to the necessary level, when to mix the ingredients, and thus encourages even those who are unfamiliar, to cook. It keeps track of your families’ daily diet, and provides suggestions for balanced meals. It is controlled using the touch interface on the countertop, which also controls the display screen, and all other appliances. This screen acts as an interface to the stored recipes, inventory of stored foods, entertainment system and the medium to project holographic videos of your friends virtually in the room when cooking simultaneously. It also provides a platform for your visitors to add their recipes, watch a favourite cooking show and place orders for groceries. A similar touch based control is also used for the cook-top and oven.
Pi appeals to the psychology of users, understanding the needs of a busy life and the crisis people face with respect to their food habits due to lack of time. Everyone wants to eat healthy, but they either lack time, patience or motivation. This kitchen counter makes cooking faster, more efficient, guides you easily, encourages you to cook with others, thus welcoming you to spend a little more time on cooking healthy meals, rather than quick easy snacks. It promotes healthier food habits by sharing the experience of cooking. This smart kitchen provides the incentive and experience so that you enjoy the time spent.
