Electrolux Reveals Voice-Controlled Appliances

Jul 9 2003, 9:49am EST | by Luigi Lugmayr

No Photos of the Electrolux Voice Controlled Appliances available. Please email us, when you see one. Electrolux engineers have designed a prototype of a voice-controlled washing machine, the first in a line of appliances to be tested with the new technology.

Still in the concept stage, the new appliance will allow consumers to operate washing controls through vocal commands. This latest invention from Electrolux will make household appliances even easier and more convenient to use.

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Although similar voice command devices already exist, such as mobile phones with voice-activated dialing, they are often ‘speaker-dependent’, only able to recognize a single voice. The voice-controlled washing machines from Electrolux will be able to respond to multiple voices, regardless of accents or dialectal influences. These ‘speaker-independent’ appliances will also be capable of responding to several commands at once, separating vocal messages and providing appropriate feedback, accurately imitating a natural conversation.

The new user-friendly voice-controlled washing machine will understand around 50 different commands and will retain up to 2 minutes of vocal messages.

“Voice command appliances are an important element in the Electrolux drive to provide our consumers with easier more enjoyable lives. By removing the need to use buttons, dials and switches consumers can easily operate the appliances with, for example, their hands full or while taking care of other tasks in the room”, states Claudio Cenedese, Manager Primary Electronics, Core Technologies and Innovation at Electrolux. „Re-assurance is additionally provided by the appliance when it repeats the commands and requests confirmation“.

The appliance is currently undergoing tests and it is expected that the technology will be further integrated into other appliances, including ovens, dishwashers and driers. Electrolux is seeking to make the technology available on the market if future testing indicates potential.

Electrolux is the world’s largest producer of powered appliances for kitchen, cleaning and outdoor use, such as refrigerators, washing machines, cookers, vacuum cleaners, chain saws, lawn mowers, and garden tractors. In 2002, Group sales were (Swedish) SEK 133.2 billion and the Group had 82,000 employees. Every year, customers in more than 150 countries buy more than 55 million Electrolux Group products for both consumer and professional use. The Electrolux Group includes famous appliance brands such as AEG, Electrolux, Zanussi, Frigidaire, Eureka, and Husqvarna.

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Luigi Lugmayr
Luigi is the founding chief Editor of I4U News and brings over 15 years experience in the technology field to the ever evolving and exciting world of gadgets. He started I4U News back in 2000 and evolved it into vibrant technology magazine.
Luigi can be contacted directly at ml@i4u.com. Luigi posts regularly on LuigiMe.com about his experience running I4U.