UK IT systems developer ICL Plc has revealed the latest thing for the homemaker who has everything – the internet fridge. The household appliance to make shopping even simpler looks like a basic fridge/freezer, but for the VDU and barcode scanner mounted at head height. Adrian King, president of ICL’s retail systems division, explains: You’re in the kitchen, and you notice you are running low on eggs. Swipe the carton past the barcode scanner, which makes a note on your shopping list. The supermarket can then make up and deliver your order to your home. Alternatively, shoppers will be able to shop using ICL’s smart trolleys, which use Windows-based GUIs and barcode scanners to provide electronic shopping lists. ICL stresses that the fridge not will not support web-based window shopping, and users will only be allowed to buy from the sites of yet-to-be-announced retailers who are in three-way partnerships with the makers. The internet fridge is due to hit kitchens within the year.
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