The Winebot
I have found my ideal Christmas present! The winebot. I want one. Not for wine tasting – I have much more fun doing that myself. This 2 foot tall Japanese gismo identifies dozens of different wines and can also name the brand of cheese. It happily identified the hand of a curious reporter as “bacon” (please do NOT think I am in any way drawing on the similarities of journalists to the porcine species). Oh what fun I could have! It could chase Sue round the kitchen giving her its opinion on her cooking and the children would dream up all manner of objects to shove under its infra red “nose”. Then I could take pot shots at it in the garden with a twelve bore.
The NEC and Mie University have teamed up in Japan to create this little darling that talks in a “cute” voice, names the brand and then adds a comment on its taste. It doesn’t come cheap. It’s designers reckon it would cost as much as a new car but they would like to reduce that to 100,000 yen ($1,000) or less if they were to put it on the market.
Admittedly there are some benefits to Winebot’s capabilities, because of its ability to analyze the chemical composition of wine or food placed next to it, it could caution its owner about such health-related factors as fat or salt content. I am a lucky man - I have a wife for that!
It can also help combat wine fraud by detecting what the bottle really contains rather than what is displayed on the label.
One drawback according to www.independent.co.uk is that it can not take part in a real tasting (shame – could be a good talking point). It can not check the wine once its been opened as the air changes the wine’s chemical structure. I wonder if it can tell if the wine has been corked?
I seriously doubt whether it will take the place of our sommeliers. Tasting wine and enjoying wine are personal and are affected by many things. As Anthony Rose (the Independent’s wine critic) quite rightly says:
“Mood, food, atmosphere and company all have a bearing”
However, if I found one in my stocking I would be delighted. I am going to speak to Sue immediately...
Note from Sue.
No way! He is categorically NOT having one. We suffered the Robot and his pet Dinosaur a few Christmases ago when the children wanted these remote control, robotic toys. The dogs thought they were in attack mode and Jasper promptly despatched the Dinosaur by breaking its neck. I think Jake has burried the Robot in the compost heap somewhere. And if he thinks I am going to have that thing in my kitchen where everyone can fall over it he is sadly mistaken!!!
PS:
She’s a softy really!
Nick.
The NEC and Mie University have teamed up in Japan to create this little darling that talks in a “cute” voice, names the brand and then adds a comment on its taste. It doesn’t come cheap. It’s designers reckon it would cost as much as a new car but they would like to reduce that to 100,000 yen ($1,000) or less if they were to put it on the market.
Admittedly there are some benefits to Winebot’s capabilities, because of its ability to analyze the chemical composition of wine or food placed next to it, it could caution its owner about such health-related factors as fat or salt content. I am a lucky man - I have a wife for that!
It can also help combat wine fraud by detecting what the bottle really contains rather than what is displayed on the label.
One drawback according to www.independent.co.uk is that it can not take part in a real tasting (shame – could be a good talking point). It can not check the wine once its been opened as the air changes the wine’s chemical structure. I wonder if it can tell if the wine has been corked?
I seriously doubt whether it will take the place of our sommeliers. Tasting wine and enjoying wine are personal and are affected by many things. As Anthony Rose (the Independent’s wine critic) quite rightly says:
“Mood, food, atmosphere and company all have a bearing”
However, if I found one in my stocking I would be delighted. I am going to speak to Sue immediately...
Note from Sue.
No way! He is categorically NOT having one. We suffered the Robot and his pet Dinosaur a few Christmases ago when the children wanted these remote control, robotic toys. The dogs thought they were in attack mode and Jasper promptly despatched the Dinosaur by breaking its neck. I think Jake has burried the Robot in the compost heap somewhere. And if he thinks I am going to have that thing in my kitchen where everyone can fall over it he is sadly mistaken!!!
PS:
She’s a softy really!
Nick.
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