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PREVIEW

 

 

 

Foodcounts was conceived  2 years ago by a small group of contract system designers.

 

The internet domain was purchased in February 2000. The Trademark and software specification was registered with the UK Patent Office in November 2000.

 

Foodcounts will be a multi-level food information service and represents a brand new concept in home food management, providing a complete range of food-chain information together with on-line ordering to the main food-sellers, and in a format accessible to all.

 

We are applying state of the art neural network technology both in terms of database design and voice connection interfacings .

 

We have conducted considerable product and market research both nationally and globally are are satisfied our applications are unique.

 

Our project reflects the objectives of the Foresight Directorate.

 

This proposal is presented in the sequence and format as required by Smart for the Feasibility Award scheme.

 

Technical, unfamiliar or ambiguous terms are underlined and defined in the glossary at the back of the report.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foodcounts Project Manager

Consensus Software Ltd

March 2002

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.    THE PROJECT

 

2.    OBJECTIVES

 

3.    TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION

 

4.    LEVEL OF INNOVATION

 

5.    PROJECT TIMETABLE

 

6.    COMMERCIAL EXPLOITATION

 

7.    BUSINESS BACKGROUND AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.  THE PROJECT

 

 

 

OVERVIEW

 

 

Foodcounts will be an internet-based food ordering and food information service.

 

We address 2 major problems.  [1] the current complexity and confusion associated with ordering food on-line, and [2] the lack  of clear, easy-to-understand information food-chain information from either government or product label sources  This is inhibiting and discriminatory, both in terms of market growth and of open access.  The overriding difficulty is the absence of any agreed standard on food and food-seller taxonomies.

 

Our first approach, therefore, will be to identify, categorise, classify, and list :-

 

·         all sellers of food

·         all items of food

 

And then to design a neural network architecture that will :-

 

·         develop unique rapid access database hierarchies

·         incorporate a unique domestic barcode enquiry system

·         create a voice interrogation option

·         expand and explode nutrition and health info for all foods

·         codify cooking, storage  and freezing instructions for automated use.

 

 

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ADVANTAGES OF FOODCOUNTS

 

·         consumers have greater choice on the method of home food delivery

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  consumers have improved information access on food issues

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  consumers with disabilities have equal access

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  on-line food-sellers can offer added value by offering open access

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  smaller food-sellers can compete on providing home food delivery

•  

  appliance manufacturers are waiting for our database technology

 

 

 

 

AIMS OF FOODCOUNTS

 

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  to contribute to an improved understanding of the food chain

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  to make food information technology accessible to all

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  to be an integral part of the information chain that impacts on consumer choice

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  to develop a system prototype that focuses on the selected market segment of convenience  meals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.  OBJECTIVES

 

 

LONGTERM

 

Our long-term objective is to create a universal database of all food products sold within the UK, linked to all sellers. Individual information profiles will be produced for each product and for each seller. Without these profiles the system software cannot be implemented.

 

The logistics on this are explained in the next sections: Technical Description and Level of Innovation.

 

IMMEDIATE

 

Our short-term objective is to produce a system prototype based on a small segment. We have selected  the food category of convenience meals  plus 1000 prime foods. The seller database will be Tesco+Asda+Sainsburys+5 small/medium sellers. Because of the nature of the market, this prototype product will be commercially viable on a stand alone basis

 

To produce our prototype the Key Tasks will be:-

 

KEY TASK [OBJECTIVE]	STANDARD OF PERFORMANCE	TO BE DONE    BY END OF:
Finalise product profile design	Approval by team	Month 1
Finalise seller profile design	Approval by team	Month 1
Finalise consumer profile design	Approval by team	Month 1
Construct core product profile database	Input speeds/response times and hyperlink times to be specified as targets.   Also approval by outside consultants	Month 2
Construct and Integrate:		Month 2
ingredient database		Month 2
US nutrient database		Month 3
e-number database		Month 2
functional-food database		Month 2
seller profile database		Month 2
consumer profile database		Month 3
Write up programme code+algorith	See separate specification	Month 4
Input 2000 package food items to database	Cost per item-input and time per item-input to be set	Month 5
Input 1000 prime foods/ingredients		Month 5
Input 1000 e-numbers/additives		Month 5
Input  100 functional food		Month 5
Presentations to 5 national sellers	Selling objectives to be set for each individual presentation	Month 5
Presentations to 3 disability groups		Month 3
Presentations to 3 appliance manufacturers		Month 3
Presentations to 3 national manufacturers		Month 3
Presentations to 3 scanner manufacturers		Month 3
Produce market report	Quantify market demand	Month 4
Run test of prototype	Specify 3 month sales target	Month 6
Produce Product Development Report	Project  future revenues	Month 9

 

 

The time table on these key tasks is shown in more detail on page 6

 

 

 

3.  TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION

 

First, our database is to be constructed as follows:

 

food-seller ID  +  group ID  +  seller type ID  +  location ID

 

 

food-item ID   +  department ID  +  aisle ID  +  section ID   +  shelf ID  +  food-set ID

 

 

brand ID  +  weight ID

 

 

food item narrative description

 

 

packaging code ID   +   cooking codes ID   +   freezing codes ID   +   storage codes ID

 

 

nutrition codes ID  

 

 

ingredients ID   +   minerals ID   +   vitamins ID   +   lipids ID   +   amino acids ID   

 

 

functional foods ID

 

 

e-numbers ID  +   risk-food  ID

 

 

consumer ID  +  location ID  +  kitchen appliances ID   +  health needs ID    +   disability ID

 

 

For the purposes of the pilot, the input of profile data will be manual, and this may also be the long-term option. However, during the period of the pilot project we will attempt to persuade product manufacturers and food sellers to provide food-item data through bulk transmission, and our system will be designed to allow for this. [ code x will be implanted]

 

By markedly expanding the food-item class system, as we have, we will simplify, amplify, and speed up the product search process. And with the use of algorithm [y] linked to our concept of core-identity [see appendix B] we have created a unified system solution. The technical work on this is now complete. Web and barcode scanning interface is also now in place.

 

We need to develop interface capability with mobile and palm [we propose to use code Z]

We also need to develop voice interrogation and voice response [we prose to use code X1]

 

The operation of a pilot will determine to what extent food-sellers, food-manufacturers, appliance manufacturers and consumer groups support the project. This in turn will determine the level of future market segmentation, from which will follow more targeted technical priorities.

 

However at the current prototype specification we have the appropriate expertise to progress the project.

 

 

 

 

4.  LEVEL OF INNOVATION

 

 

“Our vision is that in the future, all stakeholders in a transparent food chain will trust and be confident in the information they receive and will be able to access it in the form they need.”  -  Food Chain and Crops for Industry report [Foresight]

 

This vision goes to the heart of the Foodcounts concept.  We also offer these innovations:-

 

New standards on food labelling.

 

We provide a broad-based coded taxonomy covering all aspects of the supply side of the food chain, requiring no changes on the part of food suppliers, but which provides an opportunity to record and present  information in a standard and accessible format.

 

New bands of health and nutrition information

 

We link information provided by food manufacturers to a much widened base of health and nutrition data, with the further option of selection-choice  based on any of these health/lifestyle parameters.

 

New pathway for intelligent kitchens

 

We code all instructions on cooking and freezing in a standard format, and in an appropriate computer language, to provide  the first ever practical application for the automated cooking and storage of packaged foods.

 

Scanning food in the home

 

We include the option of barcode scanning to simplify and speed up access to information

 

New voice recognition system

 

We introduce state of the art voice recognition technology, offering an open 2 way connection to the Foodcounts database and the range of information services. The accessibily and the simplicity of voice recognition will have a significant impact.

 

National database of food items

 

We  have the capability to create a unique national database of all food items, based on product bar codes for packaged food items and our own coded list of base-food items. This would be linked to a new method of search and retrieval, offering total consumer choice in on-line food purchase. We have already developed an intelligent system to harmonize product data and food-seller data. This will allow us to offer a full on-line ordering service either as a relay to existing on-line suppliers or to other sellers who do not have the technology in place.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5.  PROJECT TIMETABLE   [OUTLINE DRAFT]