Over the years, CES has never run out of kitchen supplies. But next week, smart ovens, connected thermometers and AI-powered refrigerators will have new categories on the floor of the smart cutting board, the world’s largest tech conference.
Yes, not one but two showing in Las Vegas next week. Each has a very different focus. The first is Versaware, a company that makes connected cutting boards that work in tandem with bowls as part of a system that helps users count and track calories and nutrition. According to Versaware, when a user prepares a meal, he either scans the barcode of the ingredient (for packaged food) or queries the item (for packaged food) on his touchscreen display before dropping the ingredients onto the cutting board. for fresh food). The app then takes the weight of the added ingredients and calculates the calorie count and macronutrient (protein, carb, fat) increments in composing your meal.
Another smart cutting board on display next week is the BLOK, which its creators call “the Peleton of the kitchen.” BLOK’s idea is for users to learn to cook better by accessing live and on-demand cooking classes that can be viewed from the device’s video screen. When all the cuts are done, the BLOK wooden cutting board is removed from the video screen and cleaned. The assembled BLOK (wooden cutting board and video screen) is stored in a wireless charging station that sits on your countertop. The company makes money through a subscription service for access to cooking videos.
Both devices raise questions about whether consumers will accept technology being built into the most basic kitchen workhorse. This category has, at least so far, excelled in being nothing more than a reliable surface for slicing and dicing food. I think both companies will have an uphill battle to pitch the idea to consumers, but I’m skeptical about BLOK. And because most consumers have easy access to smartphones, Alexa video screens and tablets. , I’m also not sure if the cutting board is the most logical place to place the video playback.
I’m planning to visit both products next week. If you want to see smart cutting boards up close at CES, you can find Versaware at booth 53414 and BLOK at booth 61706.
