Abstract

Selecting a suitable food container is requisite to ensure that perishable food items remain fresh, have an extended shelf life, and are protected against bacterial growth. However, a standard container may be inadequate to effectuate such, especially when the storage environment is also one factor. To combat the persistent concerns about food preservation, researchers have devised a Thermoregulating Smart Lunchbox (TSL) that constitutes self-heating and self-cooling functions. This paper employed various methods to gauge the lunchbox's temperature control performance. Apart from assessing its preserving functionality in terms of freshness and quality of stored food items, researchers further evaluated the ease of use of the TSL for users and technological expertise. The study further scrutinized whether there was a significant difference between the evaluation of experts and end-users in terms of the functionality and usability of the developed TSL. Essentially, there was no substantial difference between the assessments laid out by experts and end-users. In addition, a quasi-experimental approach was used to examine the functionality and user-experience of the TSL. The study acquired a sample size of 5, which included three electronic engineering experts and two end-users who were students aged 18 years old and above, residing in Angeles City. Although the lunchbox's heating capacity was prominent. A bigger cooling system is needed to reach an optimal temperature and efficiently cool food contents. Consequently, this study contributes to the growing body of research on self-regulating lunchboxes, which encompasses system design and product development. It is particularly relevant in this contemporary era of health consciousness, where individuals are increasingly concerned about the quality and safety of their food and seek to adopt healthier lifestyles.
Keywords: Self-heating Lunchbox, Self-cooling Lunchbox, temperature control, food safety, food preservation,