LG Makes Majap Connection At International CES

By Alan Wolf -- TWICE, 1/30/2012

LAS VEGAS – LG Electronics unveiled a full roster of majaps at International CES last month, giving much of its Central Hall real estate a distinctly Kitchen/ Bath Industry Show-like feel.

The introductions were highlighted by a handful of intelligent appliances including a refrigerator, an oven and a laundry pair that can be remotely controlled and monitored and, in the case of the fridge, can relay information about its contents. All reap the benefits of LG’s Smart ThinQ connected-device Wi-Fi platform, which has evolved considerably since its introduction at CES last year.

LG’s flagship smart-grid-ready Frenchdoor fridge features several examples of the technology, including a Smart Manager function that allows users to see, via the fridge’s LCD panel or a smartphone, which food items are stored inside, where they’re located and when they expire. The app can also recommend dishes using the ingredients available in the refrigerator.

Food items can be inventoried by selecting icons from the panel, by using voice recognition technology, or by scanning package bar codes or grocery receipts with a smart phone.

The LCD interface can also provide recipes, menus and meal plans based on age, gender, weight, height and Body Mass Index (BMI); send the recipes to a connected LG oven that will automatically set temperatures and cooking times; and can order groceries online from a shopping list compiled by users via the touchpanel or smartphone.

Besides allowing users to monitor and change cooking settings remotely via their mobile devices, the aforementioned freestanding smart oven also features a 6.2-cubic-foot cavity and infrared grilling to help cook food more quickly and uniformly.

Consumers can also keep tabs remotely on the company’s smart laundry pair. LG’s Smart Access feature allows users to check cycle status on their connected TVs and smartphones, and to control certain functions like changing the pre-programmed wash time or adding fabric softener. Pop-up messages on the smartphone signal when the wash cycle is completed, and extra washing cycles can be downloaded to the washer through its LCD panel or a smartphone.

Each of the smart majaps can also be diagnosed by repair technicians over the web or by using a smartphone application.

“LG’s direction in smart-appliance development has been in pursuing technological advancements that will make consumers’ lives more convenient and ultimately upgrade their quality of life,” said Moon-bum Shin, CEO of LG Electronics Home Appliance. “Device-to-device connectivity with smartphones and among LG appliances is a new and exciting way for us to realize this goal, helping consumers handle housework in a smarter manner by saving time, money and energy.”

Elsewhere in the roster, the company showcased its largest-capacity, 31-cubicfoot French door fridge with a quick-chill “blast chiller” feature for beverages (see TWICE, Jan. 10, p. 144), and debuted a new steam dishwasher that provides enhanced cleaning at noise levels as low as 45 dB.