Samsung IoT Washer/Dryer Set Pulls Double Duty

Samsung is doubling down on home appliance innovations. Literally.

Samsung Electronics America (SEA) recently announced the availability of its new laundry pair, FlexWash and FlexDry, that allow owners to wash or dry in multiple ways at once.

“Every family has a laundry story, and no two routines are alike,” said John Herrington, SVP and general manager of home Appliances at SEA. “FlexWash and FlexDry provide a new level of flexibility for people to customize the way they care for their clothes, no matter if they’re doing large or small loads, darks or lights, delicates or regulars, even hot washes or cold.”

The laundry pair is IoT-enabled, Samsung said. Users are able to monitor wash and dry cycle times, receive alerts, and schedule laundry cycles from their smartphone.

While the latest set from Samsung has the added benefit of multiple compartments, the real story is in the pair’s connectivity. FlexWash and FlexDry are part of a series of IoT-enabled appliances Samsung has released in recent months.

In January, for instance, Samsung showed off the next-gen edition of its Family Hub smart refrigerator, which — along with internal cameras, grocery ordering functionality, an embedded 21.5-inch LCD touchscreen — features voice-activated technologies.

At the same time, Samsung introduced a new line of smart built-in cooking appliances at CES 2017, including various connected ovens, cooktops and range hoods. All of the built-in appliances are equipped with Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing users to remotely start, control and turn off their ovens and monitor their cooktop and range hood from their smartphone.

IoT technology is fast turning common household items into entirely new tools. In the May edition of the Intelligence of Things Tracker, PYMNTS caught up with Yoon Lee, SVP of product innovation at Samsung Electronics America, to discuss the company’s latest IoT-enabled appliances and how, in a connected kitchen, the refrigerator could be the next key technology platform.