CES: Online microwaves running Android

The idea might well sound like a joke, but it's entirely genuine: Touch Revolution plans to offer appliance manufacturers a new component, the NIM1000, to include in their equipment.

Take the oven on the right for instance: it works just like a normal microwave, but also includes a capacitive touchscreen display which can connect to the Internet to show news updates, RSS feeds or stream radio stations.  There's more than enough to keep you busy during the five minutes it takes to heat up your soup ...

A prototype dishwasher was also on display to reinforce the concept that in the future, all of our domestic appliances will be connected, starting with fridges.  One idea is that the fridge will store vital medical information about all the members of the family.  As it's the one appliance that just about every household has--unlike a microwave or a dishwasher--then anybody arriving in an emergency will be able to find it straight away.

One thing is certain, though: you can expect some rather unusual tests on DigitalVersus during the next few months as some of these gadgets work their way though our labs ...

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