Some Smart Appliances Disconnect

Just bought a major appliance in this list. At first the idea of it being 'smart' attracted me, but I did think about having a major need depending on an external complex resource.    Despite my background, decided not.   Now am exploring the domain further.

LG, Whirlpool Target Customers Disconnected from 'Smart' Appliances   By The Wall Street Journal, January 25, 2023    in ACM

Using the LG ThinQapp, customers can connect their LG smart appliances to their Amazon accounts for automatic reordering and delivery of supplies such as dishwasher soap, laundry detergent, or fabric softener.

Appliance manufacturers LG Electronics and Whirlpool are trying to entice customers whose "smart" appliances are not connected to the Internet to embrace the technology.

The manufacturers' continued development of smart devices hinges on consumers keeping them connected to the Internet via Wi-Fi.

Connected appliances provide manufacturers with data and insights about how customers use their products.

Henry Kim at LG platform ThinQ said the company is striving to better inform consumers on the sales floor about connectivity's perks; it also is working with delivery agents to ensure they connect appliances during installation.

Whirlpool's Murat Genc said the firm is exploring "self-healing" capabilities so appliances can automatically reconnect to the Internet in the event of Wi-Fi outrages.

From The Wall Street Journal

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LG Comes Up with a Smart Sofa

The concept is new to me, but why can't the sofa be a hub like a frig?  Can it capture the consumer  imagination the smart speaker has? Will use Google assistant or LG Signature App for 'intelligence'.

LG’s Colosseo smart sofa is the comfiest piece of tech in your home

How often have you sat on the couch and wished it reclined, even just a small amount, so you could have a more comfortable viewing angle? While some couches recline, it’s usually an all-or-nothing choice — and there is almost never an easy way to do it besides pulling a lever. LG aims to change that via a partnership with the Italian furniture brand Natuzzi.

At the LG Signature “Smart Living Concept” Show, the company debuted the Colosseo smart sofa. Connected furniture is still a relative rarity in the smart home space, and while LG has included Bluetooth speakers and some touch controls in its furniture, the Colosseo is something new. The sofa is designed to work with all your other smart home tech in the room, and comes with five different custom scenarios to match what you’re using it for.

The five scenarios — reading, relaxing, watching TV, listening to music, or pause — are designed to provide the maximum amount of comfort while doing any one of those activities. They can be controlled via the LG Signature app, an LG TV or LG smart speaker, or through Google Assistant.  ... " 

LG Innovation in Appliances

Been a while since I monitored appliances, but their continued evolution as part of the smart home remains interesting.  Quite a detailed piece with overview of many innovative explorations and with lots of images.

How LG built its Signature appliances to solve problems you didn’t know you had

The task put before LG’s appliance research and design team was as unusual as it was daunting: Create a window for a refrigerator that goes from black to see-through when you knock on it. Make it stylish. Oh, and because it’s going to be placed in a refrigerator, of course it needs to withstand extreme temperatures.

For LG research engineer Youngkwen Kim, that last one was the biggest sticking point: Cold inside, warm outside, and a thin profile meant the first versions of the window would sweat like a cold can of Coke.

“The goal was to maintain overall design, but still, function has to be followed,” Kim explained to Digital Trends through a translator during a recent trip this publication took to South Korea. “The biggest challenge was the condensation of that glass door.”.... '

LG on Robotics

Long and interesting piece on LG's work in robotics.   As always most interested in how consumers interact with robotics to provide value.  Nice to see an appliance company examining aspects of trust.

People don't want to talk to LG's big friendly robots

But the company thinks artificial emotion could be the solution.

By Richard Lai, @richardlai in Engadget

Last year was when talking to a smart speaker started to become the norm, but surprisingly, LG has struggled to replicate the same success with its CLOi series commercial robots. Ahead of LG's CES show, I talked to its Head of Research for Life Robots, Jaewon Chang, who updated on the company's robot trial service in South Korea's Incheon International Airport. Since deployment in July, each of the five Guide Robots has interacted with around 2,500 people. However, only a quarter of travelers used voice interaction, with the majority preferring the touchscreen mounted vertically on the robot's chest. Likewise, just as few people let the robots guide them to their destination. Chang needs to find a way to boost those figures -- and make us learn to trust these big friendly robots.  .... "

LG Renames Appliances by Intelligence: ThinQ

Intriguing marketing spin for intelligent appliances.  Includes list of systems and applications involved.   Note smart home implications and deep learning.    Want to see a broader indication of value proposition by appliance.

LG products powered by A.I. will now be tied together under the new ThinQ brand  By Kris Wouk in DigitalTrends.

You don’t need to be able to predict the future to guess that our coverage of CES 2018 will be dominated by artificial intelligence, and LG is definitely on board. On Tuesday, December 19, LG announced that moving forward, all of its products that use A.I. — from household appliances to TVs — will now be united under the company’s new ThinQ brand.

“Our new ThinQ platform for LG’s intelligent products is the latest way that LG is delivering innovations that make consumers’ lives easier and more enjoyable,” LG Electronics USA vice president of marketing David VanderWaal said in a statement. “LG ThinQ enables deep learning technology and connectivity across household products, delivering even greater capabilities and convenience.” ... " 

LG to Double Smart Home Investment by 2020

Makes sense, given how much LG has done with advanced appliances, we examined a number of these.

LG to double smart home investment by 2020     By Lee Min-hyung

Song Dae-hyun, president at LG Electronics' home appliance and air systems unit, tells a press conference in Berlin about LG's plan to expand its smart home business. / Courtesy of LG Electronics
LG Electronics plans to double its annual investment in its smart home business by 2020, with the emerging tech area expected to be the hub to interconnect all trending technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), internet of things (IoT) and robots.

At an annual IFA tradeshow in Germany, the Seoul-based electronics giant unveiled its vision to lead the lucrative smart home industry. Toward this end, the company plans to expand its R&D workforce by more than 50 percent until 2020.

"We are going to push for an open innovation — focusing on AI, hardware devices, IoT and robots — in a move to expand our presence in the smart home industry," Song Dae-hyun, president at LG Electronics' home appliance and air systems business, told a press conference in Berlin on Saturday, on the sidelines of Europe's largest electronics fair.

"Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) will stand at the center of our plan to grow the smart home business," he said. "We will take a close look at such companies as retail players or those with unique technologies." .....  '

More Smart Refrigerators

More (expensive) smart refrigerators are out there, and looking inwardly.  Cool looking and a conversation piece.

LG put Alexa in a refrigerator and it seems like a great idea
The company's Smart InstaView fridge puts Amazon's virtual assistant to work ordering groceries and more.   ... " 

LG Announces Hub Robot Assistant

Note this uses Alexa's Voice recognition.  Another embedding example.  Article includes video.  Note the claimed use of facial recognition to differentiate household members.  This is unique. In Mashable: 

LG's new robot helpers are cute and friendly AF   by Karissa Bell
The Korean company showcased two Hub Robots, an Airport Guide Robot and an airport cleaning robot at CES Wednesday.

Sort of like a robot butler, the Hub Robot can control your Wi-Fi connected appliances, so it can preheat your oven and tell you when your food is done. ... Also available in a smaller "Mini" version, the Hub Robot has an interactive display that shows information about what it's doing, like checking the weather or starting your next load of laundry.

It uses Amazon's Alexa voice recognition technology to listen to commands and has facial recognition abilities to distinguish between different members of the household. 

The robot is also trained to use simple body language like nodding when answering questions and keeps track of when people enter and leave the house. ... LG didn't announce pricing or availability for the Hub Robot, so no word on when we might actually see it in homes. .... " 

List of assistants covered.

LG and Samsung Readying Smart Home Assistants

Echo and Google Home have opened up the 'Smart Home' assistant component to the average consumer.  So not unexpected to see competition by other home appliance companies.      Will be following here.   In Techcrunch:

LG’s Hub Robot sounds like a mobile Amazon Echo   by Brian Heater
LG and Samsung have really taken advantage of the calm before the CES storm by teasing out their product announcements, one by one. LG’s certainly ahead in terms of sheer strangeness here, having already announced a floating speaker and a wearable speaker collar.

The Seoul-based electronics giant will also apparently be showing off a bunch of robots at the show. It’s not the company’s first robotic rodeo, of course, having already released some robotic vacuum cleaners and, at the very least, shown off some…interesting takes on the space, including the Rolling Bot that debuted at MWC last year (below).   ... " 

Also in Engadget.

New on IFTTT This Month

A number of new channels on IFTTT this month. For those that might want to sculpt out the operation of their smart home (or even smart office).   Including from Daikin AC controllers and GE Clothes Dryers.   See their many LG channels.   Even their BMW Labs Channel. And much more.   Hundreds overall.   See their recipes for the home.  And also follow their blog.    Surprised that more has not been done with this.  Is that because people can't rely on the channels being maintained?

So what is IFTTT?

IFTTT gives you creative control over the products and apps you love.

What are Recipes?

Recipes are simple connections between products and apps. There are two types of Recipes: DO Recipes and IF Recipes.

DO Recipes
DO Recipes run with just a tap and enable you to create your own personalized Button, Camera, and Notepad. The DO apps are available for iOS and Android.

IF Recipes
IF Recipes run automatically in the background. Create powerful connections with one simple statement — if this then that.

More here.

2 Dimensional Drone Camera (With Laser) or Cat Discipline Robotics

How about remote warehouse inventory checking?   Security?  Recalls an idea we had long ago.

In Engadget:  " ... Then this is where things get really weird, LG caught everyone by surprise by announcing "Rolling Bot" a Sphereo-style remote controlled, well, ball that has a camera and, of course, a laser. It appears to be part useful (you can remotely view your house with your phone like a mobile security camera) and part "wtf" (it's a fancy pants cat toy). We're less sure on this one, but points to LG for trying something different. ... " 

Update, from CNet, more data and video.

Healthcare Signage Displays

Brought to my attention, useful resource.

LG white Paper on healthcare digital displays ...
In healthcare, digital signage displays are changing the way patients receive customer service and information. Download this whitepaper to learn more about digital signage solutions that will improve the experience of your patients, visitors and staff.  .... "  

Samsung Suggests Large Frig Touchscreens

We experimented with having 'smart screens' on the frig,  Samsung and LG made them, but was unclear how many they sold. With the advent of the tablet, you could just hang one on the door. and  Now Samsung has put a very large touchscreen on a frig, to be shown at CES.   The Family Hub Refrigerator.   Why?  Show whats inside without opening door.  Display refrigerator art. Commission frig art.  Sell Ad space and touch to buy.   Loyalty enticements.    Link to smart home configuration?  Show when inhabitants were coming home.  Display recipes and timing? Link to smoke and entry alarms.   Show who is at the front door.  And ... ?

SmartThinQ Sensor from LG

How do you connect older home appliance devices to new networks?  I was pointed to LG's SmartThinQ sensor.  This was mentioned this past September in CNet:  

" ..... LG's new SmartThingQ sensor smartens up your old appliances ... Ever wanted a device that can notify you when your laundry load is done or when food in the fridge is about to spoil? LG's SmartThingQ claims to be able to do that and more. ... LG has already said it'll show off a new tablet at this week's IFA convention in Berlin. But that's far from the only gadget up the company's sleeve, as on Monday the South Korean electronics giant announced its new SmartThinQ Sensor. ... The sensor attaches to compatible home appliances to make them "smart-aware," feeding information to the user through a corresponding SmartThinQ app. ... " 

LG Announces Smart Home Hub

Looks like an Echo cylinder with a small screen and speaker.  But is not voice activated. AI / Cognitive?  In the past have been impressed by LG's experiments with smart appliances, we used and tested several in innovation settings.  before they could be networked.  Note the use of the Alljoyn system,  which has been mentioned for inclusion in Windows 10.   More next week at CES.

In the Verge: 
" .... The hub, announced today ahead of a demonstration at CES next week, is visually similar to Amazon's Echo, and like that device, features a large built-in speaker that can stream music. But where the Echo is only gradually moving from cool curio to useful gadget, LG is pitching the SmartThinQ as the "gateway" to your automated home, connecting to smart refrigerators, washing machines, and air conditioners, and displaying their information on a 3.5-inch color LCD display. ...  The hub uses the open AllJoyn "internet of things" platform, connecting to other appliances — both smart and conventional — via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or Zigbee ....  " 

Robotic Vacuum has Security Functions

In Engadget:  Was waiting for some of these kinds of obvious multitasking capabilities.    Only way we will see their more general home use.

Intelligent Personal Assistants

At today's CSIG meeting Jim Spohrer pointed us to the growth of the intelligent personal assistant,  aka VDA,  and that the Wikipedia article on the topic had a good list and links to work under underway.   The article contains much more.   The idea continues to grow.   Items marked with a * have been covered here.  Here is the list:

(This post is NOW continually updated with new links, hundreds of posts)

*Accenture's MyWizard'
*Accenture's Amelia
*Alibaba Tmall Genie
*Alibaba using AliGenie 
Braina
*Microsoft's 'Cortana'
*Microsoft's 'Invoke'  With Harman-Kardon Using Cortana
*Microsoft Home Hub
*Enterra Aila
*Amazon Echo
*Amazon Show   Amazon Echo with screen
*Google's 'Google Now'
HTC's 'Hidi'
Maluuba Inc's 'Maluuba'
*Cognitive Code's 'SILVIA'
*Cisco's Spark Conferencing Assistant
*Apple's 'Siri'
*Apple's HomePod
*IBM Watson Analytics
*IBM Watson Assistant
*Wolfram Finance
*Wolfram Alpha
Nuance's 'Vlingo'
*Samsung's 'S Voice'
*Samsung's Otto
*Samsung's Bixby  (S8 Phone Assistant)
*BlackBerry's 'BlackBerry Assistant'
*LG's 'Voice Mate'
*LG's Hub Robot
*Baidu's Duer.
*Baidu's Little Fish
*Pepper Retail Robot by Softbank
* Facebook M
*Mattel Aristotle by Nabi  (Baby Monitor)
*Jill Watson  - TA at Ga Tech
*Mycroft
*Kasisto Financial Assistant
*Kuri by Bosch
*Ginger by Intel  (unknown since its acquisition)
*Otto by Samsung
*Viv by Viv Labs
*Google Home   by Google
*Google Assistant by Google
*DingDong by LingLong
*Einstein by Salesforce (links to current collaboration with Oracle?)
*Project Evo by Microsoft
*Connie by Hilton/IBM
*Smart Assistant by Lenovo
*SoundHound for Hyundai
*Essential Home


See also Virtual Personal Assistants.  In Wikipedia.

AllJoyn in New Windows 10

In Time Mag:

" ... Microsoft announced last November Windows 10 would pack a technology called AllJoyn. An open source framework that encourages devices to be interoperable, AllJoyn was developed by the AllSeen Alliance, a group of more than 150 companies including the likes of Electrolux, Honeywell, LG, and Qualcomm that have banded together to make an open standard for Internet of Things (IoT) devices to speak to each other.

“AllJoyn technology is like dial-tone for things,” says Philip DesAutels, a senior director of IoT at The Linux Foundation. What he means is this new protocol harkens back to how when you bought something to plug into your home’s phone jack — an answering machine, a cordless phone, a fax — it would just work. The idea behind AllJoyn is that whatever smart home products you buy, no matter the manufacturer or which wireless method they use to connect, when they get plugged in, they are detected and connected to all the other AllJoyn devices on the network. ... " 

Smart Home Appliances from LG

An area we examined for years.  How could smart appliances be integrated into the home?  And what are the implications for the large CPG company?  A short look at how always innovative Korean appliance manufacturer LG is bringing out new networked appliances, and controlling them with a HomeChat Service, based on a texting communications model.   More on HomeChat. Claims are that other home services will also be linked to the model.  And of course, what will people pay for this?  Video at CNET.

Appliance Makers and the Internet of Things

More on the Internet of Things consortium, connecting appliances:

" ... Home appliance makers connect with open source 'Internet of things' project
The AllSeen Alliance is working on an open source framework that it says can be used to connect almost anything to the Internet .. "  Home appliances, cars and computers could soon be talking to one another thanks to an open source framework that has the backing of consumer electronics manufacturers in a new industry alliance. The AllSeen Alliance is supported by the Linux Foundation. Its members include Cisco, D-Link, Haier, LG Electronics, Qualcomm, Panasonic and Sharp. ...  "