I love all of my cookbooks and use them often. But these days, more often than ever before, I’m looking for recipes (or recipe inspiration) online, too. Cookbooks are easy to take into the kitchen. Computers – even laptops – are somewhat less so. The problem is not gaining access to the recipe, but handling the book/laptop while you’re trying to handle various ingredients and the risk of spills and splatters. I know that I’m not alone when I say that I don’t like to take these risks any more than I have to. As a result, I’ve resorted to jotting recipes down on various post-it notes, index cards and spare sheets of paper so that I can keep the recipe I’m using in front of me without putting my cookbooks or computer in jeopardy.
It’s not the best system, perhaps, but it works out reasonably well and does allow me to take notes as I work.
There is a new product in development that could make this sort of kitchen problem a thing of the past: The Kitchen Sync. The Kitchen Sync looks a bit like a cookbook in shape. It is a small, flexible, washable screen with a dock that charges it and holds it upright. You can download recipes from your computer right onto the Sync and take the screen with you into the kitchen, where you can work right from the recipe (and follow links to buy necessary products and see tips online) without worry about damaging the gadget with slippery, sticky or otherwise messy foods.
The designer of the Kitchen Sync is Noah Balmer and the design is still in the concept stage at the moment, though it is receiving well-deserved attention in the design community at the moment. We’ll have to wait and keep our fingers crossed that it goes into production. I don’t want to wait too long before I get to try out this little gadget in my own kitchen.
Erin
March 25, 2008I find my self in your same shoes. I have a huge stack of post its and note cards filled with online recipes next to my cookbooks. My boyfriend had discussed a concept like this to have to have in my kitchen one day. I’m glad to see the product is up and coming.
Jen
March 25, 2008Oh my, I think I have to have this if it ever makes it to production. This is perfect!
pepsakoy
March 25, 2008Interesting..but not sure if it would be easy to use !
Deborah
March 25, 2008I just realized that even though there are so many things I dislike about my kitchen, I would really miss my “high bar” if I didn’t have it. It’s the perfect place to put my laptop to read recipes – right at eye level, and out of the way of splatters. None of the kitchens I’ve drooled over have anything other than the counter to put my laptop – and I frequently have it close-by when cooking.
Alanna
March 26, 2008Not one more device to synch, please!!!! Instead let it use something like a delicious or Google Reader feed that automatically feeds itself into the device.
Cindy
June 30, 2008I can hardly wait for this to come out for sale. I will be one of the first to buy it. My husband and I love to cook and have hundreds of recipes and have a horrible time finding what we are looking for. GREAT IDEA..
GiGi
July 6, 2008I was in AWH when I stumbled across the information regarding the college engineers new inventions, jusy what I need. I currently am using my laptop in the kitchen for accessing my recipes, it’s so much quicker and easier than flipping through my recipe book library but this tops the cake. I’m looking forward to having this new sleek Kitchen Sync sitting on my counter top. I’ve already told my husband this is what he can get me for Christmas.
JC
January 28, 2009Agreed this is a neat idea but no synching. That has to be the worst idea. Just make it wifi…