Programming in the Kitchen

In this paper we discuss issues for the integration of computing power in mundane artefacts. We do so with reference to a recent project with a manufacturer of ovens for larger kitchens and catering services. We introduce three levels of obstacles when integrating computers into mundane tools and point out how organisational issues are a source of interface problems. We conclude that the design of computer-based interfaces to mundane tools should encompass broader studies of the context of use and the history of the considered artefact.