LICENCE TO CHILL

Barcodes (штриховой код) in the packaging of groceries will soon be replaced with radio-frequency tags that can be read at a distance and with greater reliability. As well asindicating what the product is, the data in the tags will include additional information such as ‘best before’ date and even nutritional data. Now,imagine that a fridge could read these tags and kеер track of the items placed there.

If an item is about to exceed its ‘use by’ date, the fridge tells you, and you can either use it or throw it out. Fancy something different for dinner? No problem, ask the fridge to suggest somemenus based on the ingredients it knows you have in stock. Or tell the fridge the menu you require and it will provide you with a shopping list of the items you don't have or order the items via email. This is the Screenfridge from Electrolux.

But why 'Screenfridge'? On the door is a touch-sensitive panel or screen that provides a means of communicating with the users. For many households, life revolves around the kitchen. This is the assumption Electrolux made in designing the Screenfridge. The same screen is a messaging centre. Since the fridge is equipped with a microphone, speaker and video-camera, you're not limited to textual information. The fridge is connected to the Internet, so it can be used to send and receive email or you could surf the Web to find a new recipe.

Many people have a TV in the kitchen, but if you alreadyhave a screen on the fridge, why clutter up the work surface with a TV? Call the Screenfridge's TV mode and watch your favourite programme on the fridge. The Screenfridge can be interfaced to a surveillance camera to check out visitors or to keep an eye on the children. Finally, the Screenfridge can perform some of the household management tasks normally associated with a PC. For example, it has a diary, address pad and a notepad.

V. Say if the following statements are true or false.

VI. Divide the text into logical parts and find the topical sentences in each part.

VII. Give a short summary of text B.

Part C

I. Look at the title. What do you think this reading will be about? Read the text and define its main idea.