SmartCal

Features & Technology

The SmartCal Meal Calendar is a simple touch-screen device. Highlighted features include:

• Attractive color touch screen interface.
• Easy to use by children and adults alike.
• Small enough for hand-held portability. (6"w x 4.5"h x 0.6"d)
• Attaches to a refrigerator door for easy viewing by the whole family.

While it's nice to use and pleasant to the eye, SmartCal's technology is what truly makes it a valuable addition to the modern "smart" kitchen.

• Remembers your favorite meals for easy scheduling.
• Provides ideas for other meals you could make easily, with items on hand.
• A network of RFID sensors would allow the device to be aware of food inventory.
• With knowledge of food stock, SmartCal prioritizes meals that you have ingredients for or need to use before they expire.
• An intelligent grocery list can automatically add items that are out of stock or needed for a recipe.

Meeting User Needs

Emerging from our research are values that users desire in general, but surrounding meals in particular:

1. Prioritizing dinner as family time
2. Maintain control over life
3. Facilitating communication within the family
4. Avoid eating junk meals

SmartCal is designed to make meal planning and food management easy, providing greater control to users which leads to less stress and more time to enjoy with family. It would also make meals a higher priority to the family, and its visual and tactile interface is ideal for encouring children to participate in planning meals alongside mom and dad.

Interestingly, secondary benefits of following a meal calendar were mentioned in our research. When our users described times when they consistently had meals planned, they said it resulted in saving money and healthier eating as well.