Cornell University researchers are trying to make one of the gadgets in Neal Stephenson’s novel The Diamond Age to life—the futuristic food processor that could turn a streaming input of basic goop into nearly any delicious foodstuff imaginable.

They’ve got a prototype machine that works like an ink jet printer. As a BBC report summarizes,

Just pop the raw food “inks” in the top, load the recipe—or ‘FabApp’—and the machine would do the rest.

As one who has long hailed the promise of food tech, and who has refused the false dichotomy of “processed” vs. “healthy,” I’m intrigued by the possibilities.

Right now, the device only works with ingredients that can be stored in liquid form. But since hot dogs and gyro meat are made with a liquid intermediate stage, meat products (or veggie-friendly fake meat products) can be used in the system. (On-the-bone meats and un-juicified veggies can’t.)

I can foresee great possibilities for creative home cookery (and nutrient-controlled institutional cookery).

Of course, I can also foresee a lot of bad ideas. (Ham cake, anyone?)