Top Highlights
- Prego’s Connection Keeper is a limited-edition device that records dinner conversations to promote family bonding and reduce phone distractions.
- It features a simple, button-press design, recording high-quality audio onto a MicroSD card without Wi-Fi or AI involvement.
- Developed with StoryCorps, it encourages sharing and preserving meaningful family moments, some of which may be stored in the US Library of Congress.
- The project aims to highlight authentic family dynamics, acknowledging the lively, sometimes chaotic nature of conversations around the table.
Prego Introduces a Unique Dinner Aid
Prego, a popular pasta sauce company, is stepping into the hardware world with an unusual device. It is called the Connection Keeper, and it’s designed to sit on your dinner table. Surprisingly, it records conversations during meals. This is not an April Fools’ joke, but a real product.
How Does the Connection Keeper Work?
The device looks like a small round puck. It has two microphones built inside to capture sounds from the table. When users press a button, it starts recording high-quality audio. Press the button again to stop. It records onto a 16-gigabyte microSD card, storing up to eight hours of sound. There is no Wi-Fi or cloud connection involved. Users can then save the recordings on a website or their own storage.
Purpose and Partnership
The Connection Keeper was created with help from StoryCorps. For over 23 years, the nonprofit has recorded conversations with over 720,000 people about their lives. The main goal of the device is to encourage families to put away their phones and talk face-to-face. The companies also included conversation starter cards inspired by StoryCorps. These cards help family members start meaningful talks.
Limited Availability and Publicity
Right now, the device is more of a publicity stunt. Fewer than 100 units will be made. The pucks are small and shaped like cans, meant to be discreet. They are designed to avoid drawing attention during dinner. Prego and StoryCorps hope this project reminds families of the importance of real conversations.
Preserving Family Memories
Any recordings shared publicly can be stored in the StoryCorps collection at the U.S. Library of Congress. This allows families to keep their memories safe for years to come. While some might worry about noise and chaos at lively family dinners, the creators say that’s part of the authentic experience.
Prego’s Connection Keeper aims to spark genuine, phone-free conversations, making family meals more meaningful and memorable.
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