A Linux-powered microwave oven

Posted Feb 12, 2016 19:14 UTC (Fri) by rgmoore (✭ supporter ✭, #75)
In reply to: A Linux-powered microwave oven by raven667
Parent article: A Linux-powered microwave oven

I actually find that for many appliances, they really peaked in the 1950s and the actual utility has been on a plateau or decline since then.

I'm not sure I'd go that far, but I agree that development is very slow, especially compared to anything involving computers. The key is that for anything, the biggest change is from having nothing to having something, and after that it's mostly refinement, and often with declining returns. An icebox is a huge improvement over nothing, a refrigerator is a big advance over an icebox, but after that you're chasing improvements in convenience and efficiency rather than basic function. Similarly, many of the changes to the microwave (e.g. turntable for the food, variable power level) are real improvements, but they're marginal advances compared to getting one in the first place.