Seems like washing machine, etc... etc.. are getting
pretty
advance. However they require more components that
will
eventually just get junked into the bin.
This is especially annoying if these components are stuff
like touchscreens with a fancy computing interface
behind
it.
Makes
you really wonder if it's possible to get people to
agree on a removable socket for the control panel, that
would store the interface logic behind it.
If you can keep the software in an eeprom on the actual
appliance, and have it loaded to the interface module on
bootup. It means the interface module wont need any
flashing of firmware. Thus replacement is simply a case
of plug and play.
Plus it's more future proof that way. Especially if we get
"internet of things" with constantly changing protocols.
Updating your appliance wont mean junking the whole
thing. Just replacing the control panel.
----
I imagine the socket would have power, GPIOs, SPI, i2c
etc... You can have different interface sockets for
different sized appliances. E.g. a toaster don't need as
big socket as a washing machine.
All of the sockets have a dedicated slot for the appliance
firmware. Which is probably just a flash drive, storing
the firmware to be loaded to the module on boot.