Digital Cooking and Bathing: Poised for the Mainstream

Appliances and fixtures are becoming smarter, faster and more efficient.

While electronic technology has been slower to dominate in the kitchen and bathroom than in other parts of the house, it has been steadily gaining ground. This was obvious at this year's Kitchen/Bath Industry Show in Atlanta, where a number of electronically controlled fixtures and appliances were on display.

Some European brands claim to have moved farther along this road than their American competitors. "In Spain, we already have appliances you can operate via the Web or cell phone," says Sara De La Hera, vice president of sales and marketing for appliance manufacturer Fagor America. "These features will be mainstream in a few years. Appliances will be easier to operate from wherever you are."

Appliance Innovations

But while ovens you can set via your iPhone haven't made their way into U.S. households yet, digital innovation has taken big steps in that direction. The trend started with convection cooking, according to Mark Karas, general manager of Adams Kitchens in Stoneham, Mass., and president-elect of the National Kitchen and Bath Association. "A lot of people didn't understand convection cooking, so the higher-end companies came out with pre-programmed settings," says Karas. "Now [electronic controls] are becoming more of a norm."

Photo Credit: Jenn-Air The control panel on Jenn-Air's new wall oven is similar to that of an iPhone, with visuals that walk users through the cooking process.

Photo Credit: Whirlpool The sleep mode on this Whirlpool range, similar to those found on computers, reduces standby energy consumption.

Photo Credit: Maytag The Maytag Performance Series dryer features a sensor that reduces over-drying and shrinking of clothes.

Photo Credit: Moen® Bathers may never have to fiddle with the shower valve again. That's because Moen's ioDIGITAL lets them set precise temperature and pressure from across the room. The remote will store presets for each family member. It includes an LED to tell them when their bath or shower is exactly how they like it, and electronic controls to keep it that way.
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They're also growing ever more sophisticated. For instance, Jenn-Air debuted a new line of wall ovens at the show featuring the industry's first 'touch-anywhere' LCD screen that will make iPhone users feel right at home. On-screen pictures of various foods with pan and rack suggestions help cooks decide how to prepare their meals. "While technically advanced, the control screen was designed with ease of use and flexibility in mind," says Tracy Frye, senior contract marketing manager at Whirlpool Corporation, parent company of Jenn-Air. "No matter what their level of culinary expertise, homeowners will have the confidence to prepare any number of complex recipes and dishes."

Whirlpool has taken a page from the digital world by outfitting select Gold ranges with an Energy Save mode that's similar to a computer's sleep mode. It reduces standby power consumption — electricity used by the controls and the clock — by dimming these features when the oven is turned off.

Laundry rooms have gone high-tech, too, with several manufacturers now offering smart washers and dryers. Maytag's Performance Series, for example, features the IntelliDry sensor technology to reduce the risk of over-drying and shrinking clothes. It not only helps clothes last longer, it also saves energy.

Digital Fixtures

Digital technology isn't just for the kitchen and laundry room, either. Homeowners can now customize their bathing experience like they personalize their music. Moen has introduced the ioDIGITAL interface to give homeowners the ability to preset water temperature and flow for every member of the family. Available in applications for the shower, vertical spa and Roman tub, ioDIGITAL features LED indicators that tell each member of the family when their shower or bath is just the way they like it.

Each LED on the temperature indicator represents a precise temperature range, which lets individual users adjust the exact temperature to their liking. Even if water is running in other parts of the home, ioDIGITAL will virtually eliminate any noticeable fluctuation in water temperature. The LEDs will even alert the user if the hot water supply runs low.

"It's like having your own personal digital 'butler' that will set your vertical spa with the perfect temperature and flow; turn on your shower from across the room or while still in bed; or even top off your bath with hot water," said Mark Knurek, senior product manager at Moen. "And the best part is that you can do all of this as easily as setting the station choices on a car radio. It's that simple."


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