The kitchen of the future at your fingertips

The kitchen of the future at your fingertips (ARA) – We turn to technology to make many aspects of our lives easier – from traveling with a GPS to staying connected with loved ones via social networking Web sites. It’s no surprise, then, that our kitchens, the most-used room in the home, are becoming increasingly high tech.A study commissioned by a leading kitchen appliance manufacturer showed that a third of respondents spend three to four hours in the kitchen each day, and 20 percent spend five or more hours. The survey also showed that Americans are embracing technologies in this room, with nearly half of the respondents reporting they want a state-of-the-art kitchen. Responding to the demand for technology, manufacturers are offering new gadgets and products designed to make kitchen tasks easier, faster and more energy-efficient: * Touchscreen technology centers stationed in the kitchen allow users to access stored or online recipes and cooking tips. * Energy-efficient pots shorten cooking time and reduce energy usage by as much as 50 percent. * Water-powered garbage disposal units are operated by the water pressure in the kitchen and require zero electricity. * Automated pantry systems catalog contents and keep track of what ingredients are running low or need to be replenished. "The kitchen is the hub of the home, where we spend significant chunks of time preparing meals and participating in a host of other activities," says Bob Rodenbeck, senior research and development director at Delta Faucet Company. "An often-overlooked opportunity to incorporate technology lies in the faucet. On average, a family of four touches it 150 times a day – when cooking, cleaning the home, washing our hands or just getting a drink of water." <div style="text-align: center"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,29,0" width="425" height="282"><param name="movie" value="../images/banners/2b.swf" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="wmode" value="" /><embed src="../images/banners/2b.swf" wmode="" quality="high" menu="false" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="282"></embed></object></div> Delta’s intuitive, touch-activated kitchen faucet offers increased efficiency and helps save water. The Pilar pull-down kitchen faucet with Touch2O Technology can be turned on or off with a simple touch to the spout or handle. With this technology, you’ll no longer have to use messy hands to operate the faucet, and if your hands are full it’s easier to stop the flow of water in between tasks when it’s not needed. Another innovation that makes Delta pull-down kitchen faucets more convenient and user-friendly is MagnaTite docking, which uses a powerful magnet to keep the pull-down spray wand firmly in place for a cleaner look. Similar in functionality to magnetic closures found on totes and personal electronic cases, the spray head engages with little effort. So what’s next? Rodenbeck said his team is always looking for opportunities to enhance the user experience. Delta recently launched two commercial faucets that use the body’s electrical charge to activate the flow of water. "We’re considering ways to apply this technology to residential fixtures in the kitchen and the bath." Courtesy of ARAcontent

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