I’ve decided when I travel I’m going to use hotels even though home rentals might save me money in the long run. Why? Because when I go on vacation I don’t want to spend any time downloading apps to turn on the dishwasher or change the temperature or figure out which remote does what on the TV, which also requires downloading an app and possibly watching a video. I go on vacation to get away from those things.
I want switches and buttons and knobs that give me instant, tactile feedback that whatever command I made was received, understood and complied with, regardless of the state of the internet, wifi, location or power source. Give me the analog life!
I’m not alone. This is becoming an issue – even for younger, techier people – due to the blizzards blanketing the nation now and causing power outages. Imagine coming home during a snowstorm only to discover that you can’t get in the house because the IoT is down. No internet to open the garage door, open your front door, turn on the thermostat, turn on lights.
I don’t want a fridge with a screen that tells me what’s inside. That’s why I open the door. When I do laundry I don’t need 20 different cycles with a dashboard that looks like it belonged on the Apollo 11. I am washing dirty socks, not splitting the atom; all I need is ‘Hot’ “Cold” “Normal Wash” and “Heavy Duty.” I do not want to have to watch a training video and download an app to turn on a dishwasher.
That’s not to say I’m against all sophisticated tech in home appliances…anything that makes it safer to operate is fine with me. (Check out our upcoming Tech Hub feature on February 18, which features tech that helps you age in place.)
Engineering for safety is fine, but over-engineering for the sake of it is another. Over-engineered appliances simply have too many possible failure points, and fixing them ain’t cheap. I want a knob or a dial or a tactile button not a touch screen. A broken knob can be replaced. A broken touch screen? Please.
And don’t get me started on upgrades, AKA the “IT Full Employment Program.” I”m with my man Tony B. on this one:
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YOUR TURN
But that’s me. What about you? Are there household appliances with bells and whistles you appreciate? Ones you can live without? What’s your overengineered experience? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Virge Randall is Senior Planet’s Managing Editor. She is also a freelance culture reporter who seeks out hidden gems and unsung (or undersung) treasures for Straus Newspapers; she writes frequently on Old School New York City and performs at open mic readings throughout New York City. Send Open Thread suggestions to [email protected].