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.

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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.
-- mofosyne, Nov 01 2014

// 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. //

It's called a smart phone. Dock your phone. Start the appliance, then undock it. Us Bluetooth Wi-Fi, etc. to notify you when the load is done.
-- scad mientist, Nov 03 2014



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