Our modern lifestyles are distancing us from the process of food production. Being less engaged with how our food is prepared contributes to unhealthy eating habits. This lifestyle also leaves us with less time for sharing quality face-to-face communication with our friends and loved ones. Less quality time together leads to poorer quality relationships.
In our fast evolving, highly technological world, we don't spend quality time cooking or eating together because our attention is split. Due to the wonders of modern technology, we have lost the habit of working only regular business hours. We are constantly bombarded by other demands on our time.
How can we bring people back to the dinner table together, giving each other their undivided attention? How can we find a way to bring fun back into the kitchen, engaging people with cooking?
The aim of this research is to use Media Design to re-engage people with food experiences by bringing fun into cooking and eating. Through the design and implementation of several prototypes, we have attempted to answer these questions.
This thesis explores the time line of the Kitchen and FoodMedia projects through four prototype systems-Flavour Visualisation, Co-Dining System, Cake Cutting and Chop Chop.
Through demonstrations, surveys and user experience analysis, we have tested our prototypes and shown that using Augmented Reality technologies in a kitchen or dining setting has no detriment over traditional tools and techniques, and enhances user experience.

修士学位論文. 2012年度メディアデザイン学 第209号