We've all spent what feels like an eternity waiting for our food to heat up in a microwave. But instead of wasting that time, why not use it for video games? Colin Furze probably can't answer the first question, but he can do something about the second. His solution is the Play-O-Wave, a microwave oven modified to work as a TV with RCA video input, and what appears to be stereo sound. The best part is that you can connect whatever you want, from an NES clone to a PlayStation, plus tuners and optical players.
Hacking Appliances Isn't New
Hacking household appliances isn't a new idea by any means. Not long ago, an enthusiast managed to load Doom into a thermostat. Some of these hacks require significant software effort, while others are more accessible, involving case swaps and relocating ports. Radios and clocks are usually good candidates, especially because of their low cost and lack of dangerous voltages—as long as we're talking about battery-powered models. Personally, I think the Raspberry Pi doesn't need any extra recommendations, and with a little creativity you can connect it in... well, anywhere. However, when the plan is to throw caution to the wind and do something truly bizarre, Colin Furze tends to be a great source of inspiration. So what did he do this time? He turned a microwave into a console...
Inside the Play-O-Wave
At least, that's the overall appearance. What he actually did was integrate a screen into the microwave's door, which meant increasing its thickness by several centimeters. The rest of the modifications are in the control panel, with three RCA inputs and a switch that turns on the screen. Without exact technical details, I'd venture to say that Furze relocated the TV's audio and video inputs and installed an extra power supply inside the microwave—though I doubt the high voltage is of much help. The screen needs all the shielding it can get, since no electronic device likes working near a microwave.
The fact that he didn't integrate the entire console might be a bit disappointing, but at the end of the day, we appreciate its flexibility. With a free RCA connector, the microwave can accommodate different consoles, tuners, set-top boxes, DVD and Blu-ray players... the list goes on.
