Japanese company combines computer and refrigerator

September 30, 1998
Web posted at: 12:00 PM EDT

MAKUHARI, Japan (AP) -- A Japanese company has developed a refrigerator smart enough to keep track of what's inside, store recipes and make your grocery list.

The company unveiled its "Internet Refrigerator" at the opening of the PC World Expo in Makuhari, east of Tokyo, on Wednesday.

With a speedy Pentium II microprocessor and huge hard drive, it packs more computing power than most home PCs, and has separate compartments for fruits and vegetables.

The refrigerator is controlled with a touch panel monitor in the door or verbally through a built-in microphone.

The company that developed the refrigerator, V-Sync, recommends using it as the command center of a wired home by hooking it up to similarly equipped household appliances such as a telephone, air conditioner or television.

More than 600 computer-related companies are displaying products at the annual computer expo, which runs through Saturday.

Copyright 1998   The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.