ArticlesDo you remember this washing maching user-interface?
Turns out the usability wasn’t the only problem. The handling of the error-case leaves something to be desired.
It is a front-loading machine. When you push the button labelled with a key in a circle is, the door opens. Unless it is in the middle of a wash-cycle, because that would cause water to leak onto your laundry-floor.
The door-release mechanism is implemented as a button that pulls a cable that closes a switch that triggers a solenoid that releases a latch that allows a spring to open the door.
Recently, the washing machine developed a short circuit… which means it didn’t have any power… which means the solenoid wouldn’t operate… which means my clothes were trapped inside the machine for two days.
I have just completed a surprise raid on the washing machine innards. The hostages have been released, unharmed but rather shaken. Unfortunately, the kidnapper was mortally wounded in the attack.
Comment by Richard on February 5, 2008
Aha! so you’ve been washing your clothes with a Rube Goldberg machine all this time!
Comment by Mr Rohan on February 7, 2008
Are you sure there isn’t a hidden pull switch somewhere – my front loader has a similar mechanism but also has a flap on the front that you can open that has a manual override that allows you to open a full machine?
Comment by Julian on February 7, 2008
Mr Rohan,
I was expecting to find one, but didn’t see any sign.
I think if the use-case had been “the washing machine is operating, but I want to open the door now, to release the pussy cat that is trapped inside”, I would have been able to rotate the dial until it thought it was no longer mid-cycle, and open the door (then run for my life when the angry cat emerges.)
However, when the use-case is “power has failed”, I saw no other mechanism.
While it was difficult to see much (in the middle of the machine, I was reduced to working by torchlight) I could not even make out a manual override on the inside of the machine, right next to the solenoid. I was looking for an easy lever to push with a screwdriver without dismantling the entire drum. I ended up using brute-force.
Comment by Julian on February 7, 2008
I checked out the latch on my brand new washing machine. I think I have been ripped off!
When you pull the handle on the door, you are pulling directly on a lever with a metal latch at the other end.
The whole mechanism seems to consist of a single moving part. (Okay, two moving parts, because there must be a hidden spring that holds the hook in place when you are not pulling on the handle.)
How is that value for money? There’s no cables, no solenoids, no microswitches, no need for power at all! Definitely ripped off.