Smart appliances from Whirlpool

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. — Global appliance leader Whirlpool Corporation has launched a line of smart appliances with 6th Sense Live technology.

The company’s flagship Whirlpool brand is making smart home management a reality in the Chicagoland area with the release of a suite of smart appliances along with a free mysmartappliances app, which is already available in the iTunes app store.

The convergence of technology with everyday household appliances is evolving to optimize energy consumption and allow consumers to manage everyday household tasks from their smart phones.

Whirlpool’s latest connected appliances include a smart refrigerator, smart dishwasher and smart washer and dryer. Each has the ability to be controlled using an app and will communicate with the emerging Smart Grid.

“Smart grid-enabled appliances have evolved into a broader conversation around the connected home and home management. Consumers want to connect to their homes in a meaningful way and benefit from functions that allow them to save energy and monitor their appliances even when away from home,” said Warwick Stirling, Whirlpool Corporation’s global director of sustainability. “As connectivity becomes more of a priority in our daily lives, seamless home management is what 6th Sense Live technology provides. We’re proud to provide our consumers with the peace of mind that they can manage daily, essential tasks from anywhere with ease.”

Whirlpool brand’s new appliances come with Smart Assistant features such as Vacation Assistant, Remote Start/Pause and alerts or text messages. They also offer notifications and alerts via smart phones and tablets and deliver real-time information, such as what cycle the smart dishwasher is on as well as energy rates and consumption.