Now, there’s a refrigerator that not only keeps your food cold; it’s got your weekly grocery needs “down cold,” too. The Smart Fridge—manufactured by LG Electronics of Seoul, Korea—will inform you what’s inside it and what you need to buy.
The Smart Fridge won’t control your caloric intake, but it will inventory what types of meats, dairy, bread, fruit, vegetables, drinks, and condiments are inside the refrigerator and freezer compartments; whether they are fresh or nearing their expiration dates; and what you should purchase to prepare your next meal. By dragging and dropping food icons on the refrigerator’s LCD display or by using voice- recognition technology, consumers can easily support these functions. What’s more, you can contact your Smart Fridge from the supermarket, using a smart phone or tablet PC, to get a personalized shopping list for the week.
And just like mom, this refrigerator is a multitasker. Need to leave a message for the family? Just jot it on the LCD screen on the front door of the refrigerator. In addition, it keeps track of daily schedules and dispenses regular weather reports. It even tells you how often the family opens its doors, providing the information you need to save energy
Starting with smart refrigerators, LG this year will roll out a full spectrum of smart appliances—including washers, dryers, ovens, and robotic vacuum cleaners—that will offer innovative ways to save energy and improve convenience. Not just individual intelligent products, LG's smart appliances are comprehensive, fully integrated smart solutions for the home.
“The home appliance industry will in the very near future shift from being mere white goods to high-tech appliances with a range of intelligent functions. With the commercial launch of our Smart Fridge, we are taking the lead in this transformation,” said Young-ha Lee, president and CEO of LG Home Appliance Company. “By the end of the year, when our full range [of appliances] is introduced, consumers will be able to stay in contact with their appliances at any time, enjoy greater convenience, and see real-life, real-time improvements in energy consumption and time savings.”
A centerpiece of LG THINQ Technology is a smart meter, which ensures that appliances use the minimum amount of energy at the least expensive rates. The LCD screen on LG’s smart appliances displays daily, weekly or monthly reports, detailing the appliances’ overall levels of energy consumption and associated costs. Daily totals for electricity usage and subsequent charges will be accessible on smart phones and tablet PCs.
With these new functions, consumers can save on time and energy bills while also opting for a more eco-friendly lifestyle. For example, the new LG washer will give you options other than prewash or soak. After you load your dirty laundry, consider how and when you want it cleaned:
“Recommend Time,” does the washing at the most immediate, most cost-effective time—or immediately if there is no off-peak electricity option available anytime soon.
“Lowest Rate,” finds the time when electricity rates are the least expensive.
Or select the time yourself, and the washer will recommend the most energy-efficient cycle.
Similarly, using the Smart Grid, LG’s ovens offer three cost options – low, middle, and high – depending on both the duration of the cooking cycle and varying costs of electricity.
LG Smart Access makes it possible to monitor and control appliances remotely from outside of the home, using a Smartphone or tablet PC. It’s easy to manage the wash cycle from the office, or set the refrigerator temperature from the gym. More impressively, consumers will soon be able to order their HOM-BOT robotic vacuum cleaner to tidy up their home while they’re out, or use the vacuum’s viewing function to keep watch when they are away from home. Via a Smartphone or tablet PC, consumers will even have the option to have HOM-BOT feed their pet while they’re away!
Finally, LG’s high-tech appliances are highly reliable, yet service issues arise from time to time. Previously, the only course of action was to contact customer service and await the arrival of a service technician to access and repair the unit. Now, LG’s Smart Diagnosis feature helps customer service representatives quickly and efficiently troubleshoots mechanical issues over the phone, limiting costly, inconvenient service calls and in-home visits.
For minor problems – refrigerator door left open, ice-maker switched off, washing machine off-balance – the appliances will alert homeowners, either on their display panel or, in future models, via a Wi-Fi connection on the consumer’s Smartphone or tablet PC.
Cheryl Kaften is an accomplished communicator who has written for consumer and corporate audiences. She has worked extensively for MasterCard (News - Alert) Worldwide, Philip Morris USA (Altria), and KPMG, and has consulted for Estee Lauder and the Philadelphia Inquirer Newspapers. To read more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.Edited by
Jennifer Russell
