By now everyone knows how wireless access has opened up a new world of “connected” devices in the home. In addition to computers now the internet has connected refrigerators, dishwashers and washers/dryers too. For technicians it means, getting remote access to features, diagnostics, calendars, news and media.
Diagnosing Problems
One of the most beneficial features in connected appliances is diagnostics. If a consumer finds that the refrigerator isn’t cold, it potentially could be the compressor, evaporator, fan or even the thermostat. The consumer calls the factory and the factory sends a signal to the refrigerator. The signal tells the factory that a fan is not working and they can send a tech with a new fan. With one call, the product is fixed which saves the homeowner time and the tech only has to make one trip.
LG’s has SmartThinQ appliances which tells a technician what the problem is before they even arrive. Miele also uses Wi-Fi to link an enabled appliance to the company’s monitoring center. If a fault occurs, Miele’s client service center is notified and will contact you the registered owner the issue.
Remote Monitoring
Another positive of a connected appliance is that you can monitor and control it from anywhere.
Samsung has a washer/dryer equipped with Smart Care, which allows you to see where you are in the cycle from your smartphone app and sends you a signal when the load is complete. These remote apps are especially convenient if your laundry system is in the garage or in a larger home where you can’t hear the alert.
Communication Between Appliances
Internet connectivity is also about appliances communicating with one another. A couple of good examples are:
GE’s CleanSpeak technology uses the Internet to send a signal from the washer to the dryer, which will then auto-select an appropriate cycle and drying time, reducing cycle time and saving money.
LG’s smart appliances communicate with each other too. Select a recipe on the company’s smart fridge, and the same data can be sent to the smart oven to automatically heat up to the desired temperature based on the recipe.
Internet connected technology is still in its infancy but with time you should expect to see a lot more manufacturers incorporating it into future appliances.
