Grill on My Deck: Voice-Activated, Artificial Intelligence

Grill on My Deck: Voice-Activated, Artificial Intelligence



Her name is Tracy. She seems nice. We text a lot.

nice rack!

What is that thing; an outdoor oven?

Well, you probably could use it as an oven.

It's propane-powered and, like most here, I'm more of a lump charcoal/actual wood type guy. Still, it was interesting making four beautiful rib eyes with Tracy. The fact that she can sear at 700 or above is nice (can get to 1200).

So you find your grill powerful enough? Is a 1.5 GHz Intel processor really adequate or would you prefer something with a little more oomph? And how about storage? Won't you run out of space with only 64 GB?

Lynx SmartGrill

Hey Peter, thanks for adding the link. The on-board computer is used primarily to connect the grill, via my iPhone, to my home wireless network, then to the internet and finally to some Skynet type organization in the cloud. I don't think Tracy's computer needs to be very powerful.

The important question, as with any device of this nature, is: Can you play Doom on it?

David Hammond wrote:Hey Peter, thanks for adding the link. The on-board computer is used primarily to connect the grill, via my iPhone, to my home wireless network, then to the internet and finally to some Skynet type organization in the cloud. I don't think Tracy's computer needs to be very powerful.

And the purpose of that is????? Sorry for what might be a simplistic question, but for the life of me, I can't imagine why I'd need my grill connected up to anything...well, i guess if I had to stoop to using a gas grill, I'd want to connect it up to the gas line, but other than that, please enlighten me.

Stevez, I don't think yours is a simplistic question at all: it's actually everyone's first question. The answer is simple too: the intelligence guides the grilling process, ensuring backyard success for users (especially perhaps those with limited grilling experience).

Please understand, I'm not marketing this thing, I'm just test-driving it. I expected the reaction to be negative (to quote GWiv: "I hate that shit."), and I'm not comfortable trying to offer features/benefits or defending it against detractors. I'm working on a piece for the Tribune, and the Lynx people sent me a grill to use for a week. Honestly, I rarely grill; I usually use my smoker; nonetheless, it is fun using this Smart Grill. YMMV.

David Hammond wrote:YMMV.

Undoubtedly!

My opinion closely parallels that of GWiv.

As an aside, I got an iGrill last year (Bluetooth connected temperature probe) and used it on a brisket smoke in my Hasty Bake. It was actually helpful. I got a real-time internal temperature readout on my phone and could set alarms for when it reached 10 degrees of my goal temp. Gimmick? Sure, but a helpful one.

http://www.amazon.com/iDevices-IGR0001- ... rds=igrill

stevez wrote:

David Hammond wrote:YMMV.

Undoubtedly!

My opinion closely parallels that of GWiv.

Cynthia Clampitt just offered this apropos quote on Facebook:

“The sensitive person's hostility to the machine is in one sense unrealistic, because of the obvious fact that the machine has come to stay. But as an attitude of mind there is a great deal to be said for it. The machine has got to be accepted, but it is probably better to accept it rather as one accepts a drug - that is, grudgingly and suspiciously. Like a drug, the machine is useful, dangerous and habit-forming. The oftener one surrenders to it the tighter its grip becomes.”
― George Orwell, The Road to Wigan Pier

I cooked four rib eyes on the Smart Grill, first using Artificial Intelligence and then using my own intelligence. The steaks were cooking away and an engineer who'd come to install the unit said at one point, "Hey, are you waiting for Tracy to tell you to turn those steaks?" Indeed. I was waiting. I had surrendered and grown accustomed to her direction.

Siri is jealous.

toria wrote:Siri is jealous.

The Wall Street Journal called the Smart Grill "the bastard child of Siri and Kitt."

Mr. Hammond's piece:

My grill's name is Tracy. We talk and text.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/dining/sc ... story.html
Google the text and you'll get behind the Trib's paywall.

Thanks Dave for posting. On the road and out of touch. Just reliving those golden moments with Tracy is painful, but I'm getting over it.