Cal State Fullerton Students Develop Smart Cooking Assistant for Formerly Unhoused Individuals
Cal State Fullerton’s computer science students have created a groundbreaking smart cooking assistant aimed at empowering formerly unhoused individuals to learn cooking skills in their new homes. Graduate students Hammad Sheikh and Sugandha Bhandari, along with fellow classmates, developed a prototype featuring a mini-computer equipped with visual and thermal sensors. This innovative device monitors stovetop cooking and offers real-time guidance on preparing simple AI-based recipes, such as chicken teriyaki and spaghetti.
Sheikh highlighted the assistant’s ability to observe cooking processes and deliver step-by-step instructions, ensuring users follow the recipe correctly. Designed with accessibility in mind, the tool can also assist seniors and those with cognitive impairments, making cooking more approachable for a broader audience.
The initiative is part of a broader project supported by a four-year, $1.25 million National Science Foundation grant, which focuses on smart-home technology aimed at formerly unhoused individuals in permanent supportive housing. The research team, led by Associate Professor Anand Panangadan, is collaborating with faculty and community organizations like Mercy House and Jamboree Housing Corp to provide essential support services alongside housing.
This project emerged from a 2022 needs assessment, conducted through focus groups with formerly unhoused individuals to identify the types of technological support that would enhance their living conditions. Alongside the cooking assistant, the team is working on additional prototypes, such as a smart pill dispenser and a wellness check system, emphasizing the role of technology in improving quality of life.
The upcoming phase includes testing these smart-home technologies in real-world supportive housing settings this summer, showcasing a vital step toward enhancing independence and self-sufficiency for vulnerable populations.
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