Which small countertop appliance provided the first glimpse of internet connectivity around 1990?
Answer
Internet-connected toaster
Although the current definition of smart hinges on robust internet connectivity (IoT), an early, prescient glimpse into this future involved a small, specialized countertop device. Around 1990, the debut of the internet-connected toaster served as the first conceptual model for appliances designed to communicate over a network, even if its practical utility was limited at the time. This early concept laid the essential groundwork for understanding how household devices could be integrated into the broader internet ecosystem that would become central to the modern smart kitchen.

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