"Laundry Time, an eight-week pilot program from the Internet Home Alliance, will eventually include nine families and feature the technology and services of Microsoft, HP, Panasonic, Proctor & Gamble and Whirlpool. The idea is to allow family members to receive alerts and control certain laundry functions from their PCs, cell phones and television sets, thus freeing up more time to spend with their PCs, cell phones and television sets," according to Paul McNamara at Network World.
Microsoft is kicking in proprietary Laundry Time software and its Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005; HP is providing Digital Entertainment Centers; Panasonic is bringing transceivers and TV technology; while Proctor & Gamble applies its consumer know-how. Oh, and Whirlpool has the Laundry Time-enabled washers and dryers, although I couldn't find out whether the families get to keep them or not.
Comment: Atlanta Business Chronicle has also reported the story in Whirlpool tests 'smart home'.
The IHA has already done a study of the connected kitchen, Mealtime, a Web-based Family Calendar User Interface Project, a Structured Wiring Pilot, an Energy Management Pilot, and others.
