Serving it hot: NIDian's device at global competition

AHMEDABAD: Sipping from a steaming cup of black coffee or masala chai, exactly the way you like it while flying thousands of miles above sea level or a box of cup-noodles softened while on a trekking trip, deep into the jungle.
Distant dream they might seem, but an invention of a student of National Institute of Design (NID) at Ahmedabad can turn this into reality.
Taking inspiration from the snail, Peter Alwin, a product design student, has created a product for the future. Called 'The Snail', this is a portable heating and cooling device based on magnetic induction process. The device, that measures like a regular snail, can directly be stuck to a pot, pan or mug to heat its content.
Designed for an international competition, Electrolux Design Lab 2010, this innovation has got Alwin place among the eight finalists, the names of whom were declared on Wednesday.
"It is equipped with a simple touch sensitive display with basic interface that helps monitor the process of heating or cooling. The product is made of flexi-silicon base that takes the profile of the utensil and withstands high temperature during the heating process," said Alwin.
"The product is powered by replaceable high density sugar crystal battery, The Snail converts energy from sugar, heating up a coil to conduct the magnetic induction process. The in-built sensors detect the food type and automatically adjust time and temperature," he added.
Talking about the usage and benefits of the product, Alwin said, "The biggest constraint that we are going to face is of space and time. Snail stands for compactness, portability and being user-friendly. Users of the product could be people living in tiny apartments or travelling extensively."