Ha! Get this...

People who have recently purchased washers or dryers from Kenmore may have bought a new feature they didn't even know existed: an appliance that can talk on the phone.

The new feature allows customers to hold a phone up to their washer/dryer and let the appliance tell a customer service rep on the other end what's wrong with it. The customer service rep can then relay fixes to the appliance owner, or suggest that a repairman come to take a closer look.

According to a video posted on the company's website, the appliances emit a high-pitched computer noise similar to the sounds emitted by dial-up modems from the Internet days of old.

A computer on the other end then deciphers the signal and displays diagnostic information for the customer service rep who can then walk consumers through the repair process.

Kenmore and Sears rolled out the feature quietly earlier this year, so some users may have bought the new feature and not even known it. Consumers who bought the new feature will be notified by mail starting next week, according to a company statement.

Mmm. I'd LIKE that feature. I've had some nasty run-ins with driers and washers in the past, and this potentially could have saved me time and money. I wish the damn car would speak to me though. "CHANGE THE OIL, b1tch" is so much more effective than a squiggle on the dash board.

CitizenSourpuss wrote:Mmm. I'd LIKE that feature. I've had some nasty run-ins with driers and washers in the past, and this potentially could have saved me time and money. I wish the damn car would speak to me though. "CHANGE THE OIL, b1tch" is so much more effective than a squiggle on the dash board.

What I hate is the generic "Check Engine" light.

Fortunately cars built since 1997 have a standardized data connecter under the dashboard, and standardized warning codes.

Some newer cars will display the actual message on the radio. Older cars like my own will spit four digit codes out the data connecter.

I picked up a device for reading and translating the codes into warning messages, and for clearing them. It'll also feed engine data to a laptop. It's saved me some money.
Scantool

I for one welcome our new washer/dryer overlords!

I talk to my car. And it talks back. The cell phone hands free works great with the odd exception:

I say: "Call John Smith Mobile" and it responds saying "did you want to call 827356?" Two or three consecutive of these little mis-recognition episodes and I get angry at my car.

I need help...

I really dislike the Maytag washer in my apt. block.

When I moved here in '04 we had a poorly implemented system of green coloured plastic chips that would last maybe two or three loads. I'd have to get these from the caretaker. The property manager's office didn't have 'em.

Then they moved to the SmartCard system. An improvement of sorts, but now I believe they must be downloading info about when I'm doing the wash now. A machine to load the card with $$ was installed the building.

Last year, without noitice, Maytag replaced all those "old" (~2 years used) machines with newer models. The washer was now front-loading instead of top. Once you press the button (twice) and it makes a locking clicking sound, there is no going back. You cannot reach in and put in additional items.

And when the washer gets to 1 minute, that minute can be a long time like 5. It doesn't say, and sometimes that machine takes 5 minutes even if I just have whites in there and no heavy stuff like pants.

I feel like this thing is like the NWO washer from Hell.

I want to go back to simplicity. Back to regular washers and dryers WITHOUT all this extra tech.

jimj_wpg wrote:
And when the washer gets to 1 minute, that minute can be a long time like 5. It doesn't say, and sometimes that machine takes 5 minutes even if I just have whites in there and no heavy stuff like pants.

It needs the time to upload your barcode and temperature preferences to the Illuminati. Fight the future dude.

My wife seems happy enough with the mobile washer board a new rock once in awhile and the odd supper at JJ's