The British aren't famous for creativity in the kitchen. But last September a London-based team of researchers struck a blow against this cultural clich. They didn't introduce a new cuisine, however; they came up with a new kind of cooker. Dubbed the "Microwave Bank" by its creators, the prototype looked much like a standard countertop microwave, with one big difference: a computer screen where the door window ought to be. Voice recognition software and touch-screen technology allowed users to send e-mail, pay bills, access their bank accounts or watch TV. A built-in barcode scanner automatically added items to an electronic grocery list. Resident intelligent agents kept track of a user's domestic habits and then suggested dishes or looked up recipes online. And it even cooked food.

Select from the choices above to read the entire article.