Learning coffee machine on the horizon, could use GPS / RFID
By Darren Murph 
posted Apr 24th 2007 10:07AM
posted Apr 24th 2007 10:07AM
Although a coffee machine that slowly but surely learns your daily preferences in regard to cups of java may sound outlandish, the already-created RFID-enabled refrigerator certainly brings things back into focus. A "provisional patent exploration into coffee machines that learn and react to their users" is underway in Lafayette, Indiana, as James Pappas is hoping to take ubiquitous computing to the next level on coffee makers of the future. While internet-connected and weather-displaying renditions are already on store shelves, Pappas is hoping to utilize some form of GPS / RFID technology to create a machine that learns and adapts to your coffee drinking ways so it can automatically have a white chocolate cappuccino ready and waiting each weekday (except Monday, which is your straight-up black coffee day, right?) without you having to touch a thing. Furthermore, he's hoping to take the idea to the mobile front, as he refers to a cellphone interface to dial-in your next request so that it's ready to go by the time you hit the kitchen. Still, it sounds like the invention is a few years off at best, but serious drinkers better hope this thing automatically alerts you when the beans are running low, too.[Image courtesy of CoffeeToThePeople]
Funny, my Mr. Coffee does this, too, and it's a 10-year-old model.
But, then again, I only drink the "straight-up black coffee."
Yeah, because it's *so* hard to push a button or two on the machine. I mean with RFID, you're already in the kitchen... Just another example of people seeking out "problems" for RFID technology to "solve".
I'd like to know how he plans to accomplish these goals using GPS. ha! your kitchen better be damn far from your bedroom, and it better use the GPS variety that goes through walls/ceilings.
The more I think about it, how does RFID or GPS have ANYTHING to do with this idea? Are you supposed to carry a special RFID tag on you every time you make coffee?? wtf, why am I getting so upset?
Link to company: http://www.jlhufford.com. I'll be watching!
I hope it can learn the Saturday night/Sunday morning "I'm really smashed and just want to chew ground-goo to try and get some semblance of sobriety" setting.
That's where the GPS comes in. "Hm, Bliss has spent 10pm until 3am at the Irish Bar. He'll probably want some coffee at 3:30am and at 11am."
In fact, if this could all be done privately (ie: encrypted with no phone-home "features") and with more than just coffee machines, I'm all for it.
I always wanted my central heating to learn what to do based on me telling it I'm too hot or too cold, or running a bath/shower.