[Tyler]

Could 2015 be the year of domestic robots and 3D printed food?
24 December 2014, 12:00 am

A smart home full of devices connected to each other, as well as domestic robots are closer than we think, according to one futurologist. This year has seen a rush in the popularity of smart gadgets, with items like 3D printers and smart thermostats making it onto Christmas lists for the first time. Daily Mail - Sciencetech (UK)Link.

Source: AI in the News

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[squarebear]

Domestic robots - no
3D printed food - There are printers now that use chocolate but if you mean printers that create food - no.

[Art]

I guess that depends on one's definition of food...

They can squirt a slurried concoction of meat (beef and ?) in a circular pattern and ...instant hamburger. Toppings extra!
I'll venture to say that these printers will become commonplace in most automated vending machines in our near future.
One day you may have one in your home as well.

Didn't one of the StarTrek ships have a "replicator" machine that could basically reproduce any food product from chicken, shrimp, steak to desserts?

Funny how Science Fiction becomes Science Fact.

[DemonRaven]

As a cook I have noticed that many of the new inventions to make life easier for us also make it taste funny. Microwaves are a good example. I don't think i would want to eat a hamburger that was poured into a shape. They are even finding ways to trick cells into creating just a part of a body and suggested that it could help increase the food supply. New does not always equal better.

[Art]

Agreed! Even though tofu can be formed, colored, textured and flavored to resemble practically ANY food product from steak to chicken, pork, hamburger, fish, the bottom line is that it's still tofu and it's not the "real deal" we'd like to believe it to be. Sure soy beans are high in protein and an excellent source of nutrition for us, but I, for one, want to know exactly what I'm eating or being served! Call me old fashioned!

Soyburgers indeed!

[Don Patrick]

I'll betcha that lettuce in the picture wasn't printed.

[Art]

Right, I think they said tomatoes and lettuce are real.

The "Printed food" expression seems to me as something of a misnomer. It's actually real food but it's NOT printed...it's squirted through a nozzle much like one would apply various condiments like mustard or ketchup. Most burger types seem to be a bean or tofu product instead of a meat slurry which I suppose could be equally beneficial (from a nutrition standpoint).

Personally, I like my burgers to be 100% beef (angus) cooked slowly, on a grill, flame broiled, medium, lightly salted / peppered w/ onions, mustard, tomato and lettuce on a fresh bun. Yeah!

[Don Patrick]

I could go for a printer that mixes up just the perfect amounts of seasoning though. I think that's feasable.

[Art]

Actually, seasoning food is a craft that should be reserved to the individual's unique taste preference.
I have some friends that love hot food so they use lots of cayenner, tabasco and habanero peppers.

We prepare practically all our meals from scratch including tomato sauces, soups, stews, marinades
and others. I couldn't or rather, wouldn't entrust a machine to flavor my food the way we like it.

Not to say that a machine couldn't be taught, just that seasoning food is an integral part of it's preparation
and ultimate enjoyment. But, that's just me.

[Don Patrick]

Yes but I'm terrible at it , and one should of course be able to edit the seasoning settings according to one's own tastes on the machine. There would not be any AI involved making decisions for you, just remembering your settings.

[Art]

Aha! Thanks for your clarification! Ehh...please pass the salt!

[DemonRaven]

I had not read the comments yet after mine. I good laugh out of it. I agree I like my hamburger completely beef. I prefer it came from a real cow not a piece of meat grown in a lab ick.