Many modern home appliances are equipped with computer control systems. We tell about the most remarkable models and useful features that they can perform.
Photo: Hansa.
The exchange of information between various household devices opens an extremely wide field of opportunities to improve the functional of household appliances. Users can be remotely controlled, and not only being near (as, for example, we switch the channels on the TV to the remote control), but also from another continent. You can also update programs stored in the memory of household appliances. It can be new washing programs, recipes for oven and other useful applications. Finally, the technique can independently update firmware programs and exchange important information, for example, to report to the service center for breakdowns or order products and consumables in the online store.
To complete "independence", of course, far (including due to security considerations), but the process gradually goes in the right direction. For example, in 2015, WHIRLPOOL became the first manufacturer who released a series of separately standing large household appliances 6th Sense Live with the possibility of remote control over Wi-Fi. In 2017, Bosch, Miele, LG presented by Bosch, Miele, LG.
Photo: Bosch.
Benefits of smart technique
6 popular ways to use network resources
- Online data bank. The manufacturer's website contains a library of recipes for cooking dishes, laundry washing programs, washing dishes, etc.
- Remote control. You can learn about the status of a working device at any time, such as the dish (in the oven) or check the contents of the refrigerator.
- Diagnostics. The technique automatically reports the error code into the service department, and then the specialist is already called with the owners and negotiates the visit.
- Software update. Just as it is done on a computer, your cooking panel, a dishwasher or vacuum cleaner can download new, more advanced software versions.
- Voice control. You give the team to the smartphone, and the application translates the voice command to the "Machine Language".
- Feedback. Simultaneously with the display of the message display (for example, the end of the washing), the technique sends a signal to a smartphone or a hearing aid.
Household appliances learn to transfer messages to auditory devices
For poorly hearing people, everyday life is full of difficulty. Household appliances, such as drying and washing machines, often signal the completion of the program with a sound signal. The devices can transmit this information as an additional text message on the smartphone. But, unfortunately, these signals often remain unnoticed. At the IFA exhibition in 2017, Miele and the leading German RESOUND hearing aids manufacturer showed how text messages can be converted to voice and transmitted to the auditory. Along with the status reports, the message device may also include warnings (for example, the "freezer door is open") or important reminders ("Please turn the roast").
Conceptual "Kitchen of the Future" Hoover Smart Kitchen, represented by Candy at IFA 2017 exhibition. Photo: Candy
Switching on one platform
A number of applications were presented at the Exhibition by Whirlpool in the framework of cooperation with the developers of the IFTTT platform (If this theten - "if it happens, then do something"). This platform is a universal interface program to which any manufacturer or application developer can connect. The interface allows you to configure the sequence specified in the conditions. For example, if you are forced to remove from the house and leave the wash cycle running cycle, you can configure sending a notification to the end of the wash to another person so that it takes out clean clothes from the car and hung dry. An example of a "recipe": if the cycle of the washing machine is completed, then the system sends someone from households a message "Unloading the washing machine and driving drying".
Photo: Whirlpool.
Views of smart household appliances
Wind cabinets
For the oven it is logical to use the electronic bank recipes, since the memory of the device may contain their maximum, and the server - how much. Thus, MIELE @ Mobile application includes more than 1,100 text and more than 120 video instructions. Also, an application has a new rating option that meets modern trends is five stars for the most favorite dishes. You can choose a recipe, focusing on your product set. And choosing - download from the Internet to the memory of the oven.
One click on the button to copy the recipe from the Internet to Miele Dialog Oven is memory. Photo: Miele.
Hansa offers its own embodiment of interactive interaction. The SMART II series of the UNIQ line has a programmer with a color touch screen. An interactive book of recipes with QR codes will inform the user, what ingredients and cooking modes are necessary for this dish. And thanks to the technology of Bluetooth and the built-in Hi-Fi-speakers in the user, users have the opportunity to listen to music from their smartphone without breaking away from cooking.
UNIQ ovens (Hansa) are equipped with a SMART II sensory program and built into Hi-Fi-speakers. The kit includes an interactive book of recipes with QR codes (the novelty will go on sale in 2018). Photo: Hansa.
Already today for the house (especially if we are talking about technology with a long service life) it makes sense to choose household appliances models in which the possibility of implementing an Internet connection is laid.
Refrigerators
These devices have long claim to become the management center and information exchange in the kitchen. For example, in the refrigerator LG Smart Instaview Door-in-door there is a transparent 29-inch sensor LCD display with a wide selection of useful features. It can be used to compile a list of purchases and view the contents of the refrigerator, without opening the door using the Knock-ON function. Working on the Microsoft Windows 10 operating system platform, the device can also download and run various applications from the Windows 10 store, including the Allrecipes, Pandora and Netflix. Now users can choose recipes from the online base, listen to music and enjoy watching movies.
In addition, the Smart InstaView Door-in-Door refrigerator is equipped with several panoramic 2.0 megapixel chambers with an ultra-wide-organized lens that make the contents of the refrigerator. These images can then be shipped directly to user smartphones at any time when they want to check their reserves, which is especially convenient when buying products.
With Bosch Home Connect, the owner of the refrigerator can familiarize themselves with the stocks of products. Photo: Bosch.
Your version of the interactive refrigerator is available at Bosch. In it, it is so far a conceptual model (scheduled for release in 2018) the camera system tracks products in factory packaging and recognizes them. The system can then adjust the cooling mode depending on the type of product. And if they, according to the refrigerator, did not get into the branch and there is a risk of their damage, he will send the owner to the smartphone a reminder photo.
WHIRLPOOL refrigerator with control system using alexa virtual assistant. Photo: Whirlpool.
The refrigerator becomes the center of control of all technique in the kitchen due to the fact that it has a door with a large area that can be used to place the display and touch control panel.
Washing machines
The technique can actively help with washing. For example, when the stain appears on clothes. In this case, the Miele @ Mobile application will offer tips on processing stains and pollution on textile products, as well as give advice on the selection of the correct washing program and detergent. In case you cannot determine the material, it is enough to make a photo of stains and intact fabric area, and the stain removal guide will offer an optimal washing cycle.
Washing programs can be started using the application remotely. Photo: Bosch.
The Candy Smart Touch application is similar. In the program, you yourself choose linen or type of fabric, then the color and degree of contamination - and then the electronics will advise the washing program suitable in this case. In 2017, 40 washing modes were available through the Internet, and their number will increase over time. Also, besides the function of choosing a washing program, new Candy washing machines can be equipped with the "Smart Diagnostics" function.
In the Smart House of Whirlpool Washing and SUPREMECARE Drying Machines can interact with the NEST thermostat, tracking on it (manually or automatically) "home" modes and "out of the house", and in accordance with them choose the optimal settings for care for clothing. For example, having received a signal that the user is not at home, and the washing cycle is complete, the smart washing machine SupremeCare (Whirlpool) activates the additional rotation of the drum so that the clothes are not lying.
The NEST thermostat transfers the washing cycle if it is scheduled for a peak load on the power supply. Photo: Whirlpool.
Warm panels and hoods
From cooking panels, a consistent work with kitchen hood is most often required, so smart devices directly exchange information about operation mode. So, in a series of equipment Uniq (Hansa), the induction cooking surface and the UniQ extract is synchronized using the Intouch innovation system. The turning on the surface automatically starts the performance of the drawing and adjusts the speed of the absorption of steam and odors.
Similar solutions offer Elica, Miele, Bosch and Siemens. In a number of software applications, you can control and in manual mode, you can remotely turn it on, turn off, adjust the power.
Using the Bosch Home Connect application, you can remotely control Bosch technique, from the cooking panel to the coffee machine. Photo: Bosch.
Robots vacuum cleaners
These devices are equipped with a fairly powerful processor and other electronics, so make them smarter technically will be easy. What can the vacuum cleaner need to be required? For example, the SCOUT RX2 (Miele) model allows the user to track exactly where the robot vacuum cleaner removes at any time. Also, thanks to the remote access, the user can check whether everything is in order, whether the door of the courtyard is closed, which makes the dog, is there in the house of unwanted visitors. To transfer images, one of two front cameras on the front panel of the device is used, parallel to the accurate navigation of the vacuum cleaner. Similar functions already have in Bosch vacuum cleaners. Thus, the company offers to equip his robots-vacuum cleaners with voice control (for example, order a robot to get into the room or, on the contrary, leave the room).
Scout RX2 (Miele) robot vacuum cleaner is equipped with video cameras and can be broadcast on a smartphone image from home. Photo: Miele.
Such home devices like robots vacuum cleaners are already almost completely ready to connect to the Internet: for this it is enough to build the Wi-Fi module and create an appropriate application program.
Now you can remotely take care of the purity in the apartment and launch the Bosch vacuum cleaner at a convenient time when there is no one at home. Photo: Bosch.
Home robot
At the end of the article I want to say about a fundamentally new type of household appliances - home robot. Their first models were on sale in Japan and South Korea. Such a home robot Home Robot, in particular, was represented by LG. The robot, in fact, is an improved control panel of the Smart Home system. It is able to recognize the voice and connect to other smart household devices LG in the house. With voice commands such as "Turn on the air conditioner" or "Change the dryer mode", the household appliance will automatically perform the task.
Home Robot Home Robot (LG) recognizes the host's voice and execute his command to manage other household devices. Photo: LG.
Home Robot's home robot is also equipped with an interactive display that can display the desired information, such as the contents of the refrigerator content or recipes of dishes with step-by-step instructions. In addition, the home robot is able to perform many other tasks, including: playing music, the installation of alarm clock, the creation of reminders, as well as provide relevant weather information and the situation on the roads.
