New Technology Talk

LG electronics has recently introduced a device that's likely to become the perfect gift for the home entertainment enthusiast who has everything- a HDTV fridge. I'm not making this up. LG's new (HD|high} def refrigerator has a 15in LCD screen that's capable of displaying an HD quality picture installed on the appliance's door. This side by side fridge will let users watch TV while hanging out in the kitchen and may be just what the home entertainment enthusiast who doesn't want his or her viewing interrupted by a case of the munchies asked for. Of course, with a list price of about $4000, it might not be a great item to give as a gift this holiday season.

In addition to having all of the amenities that one might expect on a top notch side by side refrigerator, like a cold water dispenser and an ice dispenser, the HDTV fridge comes with a built in HDTV tuner and a connection for a DVD player or other set top equipment. It can display cable or satellite TV inputs as well. In other words, it's now possible to transfer your entire home entertainment system to the kitchen.

The HDTV refrigerator's electronic capabilities go far beyond simply offering entertainment though. In fact, there are plenty of features that lend themselves well to use in the kitchen. As you know, in keeping with the trend for electronics companies to build computer type devices that are designed to be positioned in the kitchen and to provide families with ways of sharing information and enjoy various forms of entertainment while they're in the kitchen, LG has chosen to build some of the same features into this device. In addition to the 15in LCD HDTV screen, there's a smaller LCD screen on top of the water and ice dispenser. This minute screen is used to display weather and news reports. These reports are customized based on the owner's city or town and make their way to the refrigerator via wireless connection. This refrigerator also has the power to display digital photos and be used as a recipe collector.

Of course, there are some conceptual and practical issues with equipment that combines a kitchen appliance with a home entertainment system. First of all, any time that two devices like this are combined, there's the possibility of a malfunction with one {taking down|effecting| the other. It could be extremely unfortunate to have to send your refrigerator in for repairs when your TV breaks down. Also in an age when energy efficiency is of elevating importance, an additional LCD screen that's constantly displaying local news and weather is just another thing to increase the power bill. Then there's the practical matter of the location of the screen on the refrigerator door. It's just above halfway up the door which will have it too low to be watched comfortably by the average adult standing in front of the refrigerator.

While there are several issues with the device like those mentioned above, the option of having an HDTV screen built into a refrigerator also offers some interesting possibilities. For example, it might offer the ability for the occupants of tiny homes to make better use of the space that they have. For example, it's fun to imagine the occupant of an apartment sitting at the kitchen table and watching TV on one of these refrigerators with various set top boxes stacked on top of the device.

Now, only time will tell how well received this combination of appliances will be, it's definitely a very interesting concept.