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The Future of Laundry is in the Internet and Cell Phones

The washing machine technology had advanced in giant steps in the last couple of decades. It is now taking another step towards the digital future. Soon washers and dryers that link wirelessly to Internet-connected home networks will be available to customers, who will be able to receive updates on their dirty laundry on their cell phones, computers and TV sets.

Consumers will get messages that tell whether a wash is complete or warn that a filter is blocked or a load is too large. Users can remotely command the machines to fluff dry clothes or start a load from a distance after being told that they forgot to start the wash. The new technology will probably be on the market only a year from now, since it has to be thoroughly tested.

The prices are not known even to the manufacturers. Whirlpool says changing its latest models won?t be hard if the company decides to offer the technology to the consumers. Rich McCoy, Whirlpool?s lead engineer, says: ?It?s really not rocket science, but it?s something new to our industry. We?re slowly adopting things that make sense.?