Hello there, consumer electronics and home appliance manufacturers. For years now you have been promising me, and the rest of the consumer market, the connected “Smart Home”. A home complete with light timers, programable thermostats, appliances, and electronics that communicate with each other seemlessly over wifi or some other network, as well as touch screens all over the home to control the home and all the gadgets within in. Some of your collective efforts have worked well, and at a reasonable price. I enjoy the ability to view media on my TV, from my computer, smartphone, and a handful of online services. I can also start my car from my smartphone with minimal hassle. The ability to lock, unlock my front door, and remotely control the thermostat for my home with my smartphone, is an economically viable option at this time.
However, I do not need touch screens in every room of my house (I already carry one in my pocket), especially when the cost per screen is as expensive, or more expensive than an iPad, or other tablet device that is multi purpose. Don’t get me wrong, touch screens instead of light switches is extremely cool, but until the price comes way down your average consumer does not need it. The Internet enabled kitchen appliances that have come out, have not had the right features to make them successful products. HD touch screens, DVD Players, and MP3 players are not features I need in a refrigerator, or any other devices in my kitchen that were not designed with those functions as the primary focus of the product.
Some of the features I would like to see in connected “Smart” ovens, and micro-waves are an open standard (amongst all manufacturers) for cooking times, and temperatures from digital recipe software, and frozen meals. And of course a wifi notification system, to inform me of timers and temperatures, on my computer, TV, and mobile devices. As for the fridge a low cost touch screen for basic controls, messages (from the internet, and local), and pictures, as the fridge has long been the communications hub for the modern family. Future functions could also include grocery list creation software compatible with popular software such as Grocery Gadget, or Grocery IQ. Sale information from a local grocery store, and expiration information on some of the goods in the fridge. I would also like to see a programable coffee maker compatible with low-cost automation software that would integrate with an alarm clock (in the bedroom), and the home thermostat.
Laundry Appliances (the main reason I wrote this post. My current ones are on their way out) should also have a notification system sent to computers, TV’s, and mobile devices. This is the most important “Smart” Feature that Laundry Appliances should have, as they are usually tucked away in a basement far enough that you may not always hear the buzzer. Also in conjunction with clothing manufacturers, through bar codes or manually entered pin numbers, specific garment washing instructions and settings.
With user consent, all “Smart Appliances” could also link to the manufacturer for diagnostics. This could potentially save time and money on service calls if the technician already has an idea of what might be the issue. The most important feature of all “Smart Appliances” should be upgradeability, both software, and hardware. Upgradeability is key because unlike other consumer goods, appliances are far too expensive to replace every time a new feature comes out. Hardware upgrades should come in a standard physical size and location for the various appliances to increase compatibility. Hardware upgrades do not necisarily need to be user instalable, but should be low cost, fairly simple, and quick to install for the technician. Making hardware upgrades low cost, quick, and simple, will increase consumer adoption of new features as they come available, instead of waiting until the whole unit needs to be replaced.
To usher in the era of the “Smart Home”, a dream that has been around since the 1950’s; manufacturers need to start small, and slowly work to greater ambitions, if traditionally unconnected devices are going to start coming online to create greater convenience within the modern home.
