Photos: Futuristic PCs think out of the beige box

The Smartchef is pitched as "a partner in the kitchen for those who take pleasure in cooking, cuisine and the culture of food". The device is split into two components; a stationary 'smart' cutting board base and a portable tablet.

The device is not "intended to reduce the owner's time in the kitchen. Instead, it is designed to extend that time and make the pursuit of the home chef's passion more enjoyable and fruitful".

Credit: Microsoft/Robert Hutton, Ayako Takase, Christopher Specce