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SUMMARY OF PROPOSED PROJECT

  

Foodcounts will be an internet based food information and ordering service using a unique user-interface design that fully exploits next-generation technology. The new design will be high speed, offering wider consumer choice and improved access for the disabled.

 

The immediate objective is to develop and evaluate a prototype that focuses on the single sector of packaged convenience meals.

 

We will be creating a unique databank of packaged food items, centred on the universal product barcode number, and collating 3 main data sets:- 

• cooking/storage/freezing/defrosting information.

• nutritional values

• ingredient analysis

Data retrieval will be by barcode scanning, menu escalator or voice interface.

 

We have given particular attention to the innovation recommendations of the Foresight FCCI  Panel and believe we have developed a system design that allows for new standards of food labelling and considerably increased information on food ingredients. Our system also connects the information link between the food supplier and modern kitchen appliances. In particular all aspects of our data bank interface will incorporate the “access-for-all” ethos. Moreover, by profiling individual customer needs on health status and general lifestyle choices, a new range of enquiry applications are made possible with totally new and fresh options on  food selection”.

 

We have researched nationally and globally and are satisfied our proposed applications are unique. We believe there will be considerable commercial interest in our proposed data bank and interface system. On-line food retailers will be interested, in that our processing system can be bolted-on to give added value. Other retailers could use our system to retail on-line [for food-items only]. White goods manufacturers will be extremely interested, in that, so far, no one has addressed the problem of decoding all the food manufacturers instructions into a common format. And we are confident all consumers will readily identify the benefits,  particularly if we are endorsed by the healthy-eating and disability pressure groups.

 

Foodcounts was conceived over 2 years ago. In the meantime, and as time has permitted, we have carried out considerable product and market research, and are now confident the time is right to develop our new system. Dr Nick Allott, currently on contract as Technical Director of Motorola, and a leading expert on 3G technologies, has selected a small team of highly qualified professionals to develop and evaluate the prototype over a  6-month time frame [24 weeks].

 

Consensus Software Ltd