Intelligent CIO Middle East Issue 27 | Page 44

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// FEATURE: IOT Household tasks are set to become less of a chore thanks to the development of the Internet of Things. Technological advancements mean Middle East consumers will soon be able to communicate remotely with their home appliances offering a new level of convenience. C onsumers in the Middle East will soon be able to communicate with their home appliances through their Apple Watch. Whirlpool Corporation, which operates in the Middle East, is connecting its appliances to allow consumers to remotely communicate with ovens, washers and dryers via Apple Watch. The collaboration marks the first time an appliance maker has connected its products with Apple Watch and its capabilities. “Bringing intuitive technology and functionality to the appliance category that helps take the friction out of household chores is chief among our goals as we innovate for the smart home,” said Brett Dibkey, Whirlpool Corporation vice president for brand and strategy. “Our consumers are sophisticated and expect their appliances to work smarter, not harder. Through the new collaboration with Apple, we’re increasing a consumer’s capability to interact with their appliances in new and more convenient ways.” Compatibility with Apple Watch will begin with a roll out to more than 20 Whirlpool brand connected appliances in 2018. Consumers will be able to remotely communicate with their appliances through the Whirlpool app on Apple Watch in a variety of ways: • Oven: Consumers will be able to see the current oven status and control commands during an active cycle. • Washer: Alongside status updates, users can control the wash options of an active cycle. Whether it be a normal wash, delicates or brights, consumers can adjust an active cycle on the fly via their Apple Watch. • Dryer: Consumers can control and detect if a cycle has started and discover how much time remains before the cycle is complete. This collaboration with Apple Watch is another demonstration of Whirlpool Corporation’s commitment to innovation that serves a purpose. By expanding remote connectivity to home appliances, consumers can continue to personalise their appliance interactions and care for their families in smarter, faster and better ways. Whirlpool smart appliances also support the Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, allowing families to control their appliances Whirlpool launches IoT functionality for home devices 44 INTELLIGENTCIO www.intelligentcio.com