Home Tech: Make a Place for the Web in the Kitchen
See why the heart of the home may be the perfect place to connect to the internet — and each other
I write about home technology and shopping, and love both. I'm the Tech Girl in Traditional Home magazine and contribute retail coverage to Forbes, Yahoo! and Dealnews, among others.
I write about home technology and shopping, and love both. I'm the Tech... More »
There is perhaps only one place we can put a video screen more controversial than the kitchen — and I'll deal with technology in the bedroom another time — but the kitchen is one of the best places to have one.
I know that designers disdain TVs, computers and all the ugly wires and boxes that go with them. I know, too, that many believe the heart of the home is no place for technology. But I encourage everyone to reconsider how we think of technology and its ever-present spouse, the screen.
I know that designers disdain TVs, computers and all the ugly wires and boxes that go with them. I know, too, that many believe the heart of the home is no place for technology. But I encourage everyone to reconsider how we think of technology and its ever-present spouse, the screen.
| It's time to start thinking of the screen as a portal that allows access to all the content in the cloud: recipes, cooking demonstrations, breaking news, weather alerts, research for a child's homework, access to a school's calendar or assignment list, and yes, television programming. Thinking that we can or should live without all these perks in the most-used room in the house seems silly to me. Of course, it should make sense aesthetically. Private Comment
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| Would this pristine environment be marred by the presence of a TV or computer monitor? Perhaps, but let's examine the ways in which technology and modern life are intertwined. Private Comment
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| If you own a notebook computer, iPad or other portable device, pay attention to how it's used. Chances are it ends up in the kitchen more often than anyplace outside a home office. This is our gathering space, the hub of household activity. We use devices connected to the internet for so many things now; not having one available in the kitchen can be a real drawback. Private Comment
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| Need to check the traffic or weather? A child's school or practice schedule? Send a quick email? Look up a movie time? Chances are you're doing it online. Having a way to do that in the kitchen is a convenience that will keep people from constantly leaving the room to check a desktop computer or waiting for smart phones to load the answers. Private Comment
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| I've attended several conferences about kids and technology, and one of the more interesting takeaways is this little tidbit: families report spending more time together when there's a computer in the kitchen. Private Comment
Hear me out. The presence of a computer gets kids out of their rooms and again doing homework at the proverbial kitchen table. It's easier to help when needed, so there's no "wait until after dinner" for a parent to assist. Screens can be terrible barriers to intimacy and interfere with family time, but bringing one into the kitchen seems to help mitigate that. |
A dedicated computer station in the kitchen can help make it the go-to spot for studying and networking. And it provides one spot to corral all those wires.
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You don't necessarily need a computer to achieve all this togetherness. New TVs have a lot of the capabilities of computers, without the word processing software. If you're buying a new TV, consider one that's internet enabled. With a high-speed internet connection you'll able to access a good deal of content on the web. Only programs made available via specially developed apps are available, and many of those are entertainment based, but these units are the most future-proof, and new ways of using them are coming out every month. New products like Samsung's Smart TV are adding apps all the time to enrich the experience.
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AppleTV is an easy way to get some internet content on an older TV. This $99 device uses a home's wireless network to access content on a home server or computer, and the addition of a wireless keyboard makes some interactivity easy.
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iPads are proving popular in kitchens as well, and there are many new devices that make it easier and safer to use here. This chef stand and stylus are designed for kitchen use, the rubber bottom of the stand keeps it from slipping. The stylus means no sticky fingers on the screen.
There are safety concerns with bringing portable electronics into the kitchen. Take care not to use them near water, of course, and try to keep ingredients at a safe distance. Electronics today aren't as delicate as they once were, but neither are they waterproof.
If you do get water on or submerge a portable device in liquid, remove the battery (unless the device has an internal battery) and place the device on a bed of dry uncooked rice. That will absorb the liquid. Don't try turning the device on and let it sit overnight before rebooting. It doesn't always work, but it doesn't hurt to try before buying new device.
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There are safety concerns with bringing portable electronics into the kitchen. Take care not to use them near water, of course, and try to keep ingredients at a safe distance. Electronics today aren't as delicate as they once were, but neither are they waterproof.
If you do get water on or submerge a portable device in liquid, remove the battery (unless the device has an internal battery) and place the device on a bed of dry uncooked rice. That will absorb the liquid. Don't try turning the device on and let it sit overnight before rebooting. It doesn't always work, but it doesn't hurt to try before buying new device.
We may not love technology for a lot of reasons, but we do love what it does for us. Why not allow it into your favorite room? You just might be surprised with the result.
Tell us: What do you think about TVs and computers in the kitchen?
More: TV in the Bedroom — Thumbs Up or Down?14 Ways to Put a TV in the Kitchen
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Tell us: What do you think about TVs and computers in the kitchen?
More: TV in the Bedroom — Thumbs Up or Down?14 Ways to Put a TV in the Kitchen
Comments
scarbowcow says:
The idea of the kids' homework computer in the kitchen makes so much sense - and since most people don't live in a sterile, staged 'designer' home, it won't spoil the picture-perfect 'composition' of the room - the people hanging out, eating, talking, arguing, cooking, washing dishes in there have already done that. I haven't been in a family kitchen that looks like a picture on Houzz: they look cooked in, cluttered, busy. The nicer and homier the kitchen is, the more likely someone is to bring a laptop in there and sit at the table, among people. With kids getting into so much truly DANGEROUS stuff online, it is foolish to let them go online in bedrooms, alone or with other kids, away from parental supervision. Bring that computer to the kitchen where Mom and Dad can always see what's on the screen, by all means. I also believe in a reading corner or just an armchair or sofa in the kitchen - a place where a child can sit and be quiet, read a book, or chat to the cook and be close to the family. It may not be sleek and elegant and 'perfect' as a designer has in mind, but it IS human.
6 months ago ·
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Laura Heller says:
The safety issue is an important element of having a computer outside of a child's room. When they're online, it's definitely best for it not to be while alone in their bedroom. There's good research to support that too.
It's always nice when someone acknowledges that most people don't live like a magazine layout. Although I'd love to see someone tackle an ideabook about how to carve out reading nooks in family spaces. Having one in a kitchen is brilliant.
It's always nice when someone acknowledges that most people don't live like a magazine layout. Although I'd love to see someone tackle an ideabook about how to carve out reading nooks in family spaces. Having one in a kitchen is brilliant.
6 months ago ·
Like
sara23 says:
We built a house this year and had the kitchen wired for a smart tv. We are using the samsung tv and apple tv you have posted above and we love it! We spend so much time in the kitchen that it makes sense to be connected there too. I can catch the weather and news while making breakfast in the morning and pull up recipes on the screen or even get caught up on X Factor while I cook and clean up. ;)
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