Develop some kind of expandable toy (or just use lego) to fit onto household items such as toasters or kettles that has various servos and actuators for activating the various controls. This would then be remotely controlled, allowing more laziness and (I think you'll agree) a more stylish collection of home appliances.
-- rohil, Jun 25 2004

x-10 http://search.msn.c...?FORM=TOOLBR&q=x-10
lots of results [MikeOliver, Oct 04 2004]

x-10 technology makes this baked.
-- MikeOliver, Jun 25 2004


You have a point with x-10, but by the looks of things is not mechanical , so would need electrical wizardry of some sort to control things such as volume, temperature, other more specific controls. This could do a lot more than simply on/off, plus it doubles as a toy.
-- rohil, Jun 25 2004


I would love one for my range (it came with the house). I can't count anymore how often someone got burnt by steam or hot fat while reaching for the controls at the back or turned the wrong knob because a pot obstructed the view.

What imbecil came up with the idea to put controls at the back of ranges and why is that insanity copied so often?
-- kbecker, Jun 25 2004


NO! not the toaster. Main reason is you whould be with your toaster! I set my flippin toaster on fire today! there were foot high flames leaping up and lapping the cupboard above! I grabbed it an slamdunked it into the sink whereupon covered it in a wet teatowl! It then started to set the teatowl off! So I just started pouring glass after glass of water over it! it sizzled for ages! WHY, because I had the crumpet set too high and left it on to talk to my gf. (damn I think I need a new toaster)

Besides there is a remote control designed for plug sockets that will kind of do that. (but not for the toaster)
-- not-arf, Jun 25 2004


I'm not sure what you mean by an "expandable toy" that "fits onto" appliances.
-- robinism, Jun 25 2004


What i mean by 'expandable toy' is that, in a similar way to lego, knex, meccano, etc, you could get add-on parts and custom build your own control system.
-- rohil, Jun 26 2004


[BrauBeaton] I noticed the same price structure and I heard the "kids" reason too. However, I never saw a range with a pull up fence at the front to prevent kids from pulling down pots full of boiling water on themselves. I doubt that manufacturers are too concerned about kids.
-- kbecker, Jun 26 2004



random, halfbakery