Peter Blackford's example of the
LG refrigerator in Made by Monkeys certainly struck a nerve. I bought an LG French door fridge about three years ago. Shortly after it was delivered, I received a legal notice regarding a class-action suit against LG because its French door refrigerators used more electricity than what was claimed in their product specs. I receive a very small check annually as compensation.
Shortly after the warranty expired, the ice maker stopped working. I checked the mechanism, the electrical connections, the water feed tube for ice and foreign material, and the house water supply. All seemed OK. I unplugged the fridge and let it sit for about 10 minutes. Nothing helped. The fix was to use ice cube trays. About two months later, while I was sitting in the kitchen, I heard ice cubes drop into the ice maker bin. It started working by itself.
About three months ago, I opened the door and the light was out. I thought it was a bit strange that two bulbs would go out at the same time. When I went to remove the cover, it was warm. Later in the day, the lights were working again. That night, I walked by the fridge and saw light seeping out of the doors (which doesn't say much about the quality of the seals).
The lights were going on and off randomly, whether the doors were opened or closed. After about two weeks of that, the light problem fixed itself and has been functioning properly since. A week ago, I received another legal notice regarding a class-action suit against LG for French door refrigerator lights that go on and off at random or stay on permanently.
This refrigerator either has a mind of its own or it was made, tested and inspected by monkeys.
This entry was submitted by Lewis Goulfine and edited by Rob Spiegel
Tell us your experiences with Monkey-designed products. Send to Rob Spiegel for Made by Monkeys.
Now we're delving into the philosophical realm. When are technology upgrades impactful for the masses, and when are they purely an exercise in effort? Sure, the internet has produced some great byproducts, The WIKIPEDIA group being the most prominent (in my opinion). BUT there are also all those unintended consequences. During yesterday's MICHAEL MEDVED program, he discussed a recent NEWSWEEK article concerning the almost exponential rise in "sex crimes", and the reasons for it. One very credible factor IS the internet! Pornography is rampant and easily available to anyone w/ a PC. Here's two very upsetting statistics that he produced. EVERY day in the U.S. (alone), there are at least 40 million people "tuned in" to a pornographic website, and there are currently operating in the U.S. approx. 14.2 MILLION pornographic-specific websites. To me, that's almost criminal!
There are literally too many vivid examples of products that have flourished. but for what ultimate reason? Were they really needed, OR were they brought onto the buying public by extremely effective marketing depts?
Personally, I have been a technologist for the better part of fifty years, but every product that I designed or was a team member in the design was a useful product, and not something frivolous. When I see new designs in any category, I analyze that product to determine the usefulness of it for society as a whole.
For example, FORD is touting one of their new models that's equipped w/ self parking. While I'm sure it was a major engineering feat to accomplish it, is it really necessary?, OR, is it a marketing gimmick? What ever happened to the HONDA ACCORD years ago that had 4-wheel steering? That was a mechanical solution to ease a vehicle into a tight space? It last only a few short years. In the very early 1950s, an engineer modified a CADILLAC with a purely mechanical drivetrain to convert the spare tire into a cross-axled fifth wheel. When the parking space was too tight to maneuver out of, the driver could lower the "spare" which was powered. The vehicle would then rotate about the axis of the two front wheels. The spare wheel would reset, and the vehicle could be backed out.
We could discuss this from now until after Doomsday. That's why I continue to adhere to the philosophical argument for most of these blogs.
This machine sounds like it's inhabited by a poltergeist!
But seriously--TJ, a 10-year warranty on a washer? Who makes it, Mercedes-Benz? I'm afraid to think of what it costs. Yet, that length sounds like the old warranties we used to get on household appliances.
Thanks, TJ. Ironic that it's also LG. Also ironic that the Mercedes-quality warranty isn't on the whole machine, just on the drive, even if that is the bulk of the machine's value.
I just read the article by Peter M. Blackford in the November 2011 issue of Design News in the section Made By Monkeys. Of all of the deficiencies, or design snafus, that Peter picked up on, he said nothing about the incorporation of a touch panel itself. My God, it’s a refrigerator. It keeps milk cold and ice cream frozen.
It doesn’t need computer control. It needs a thermostat. Your not trying to control a 100,000 BTU furnace, it probably has a 1/8 to ¼ HP compressor. Don’t label me a dinosaur or anti progress activist but come on, all the manufacturer has done is raise the price by several hundred dollars in the name of progress and energy savings. I have a computer and flat screen TV’s but I will never have a $1500 washer or dryer or a refrigerator with computer type control.
When young people see a refrigerator with a touch panel their eyes glaze over and they sign on the dotted line, even though they don’t realize that they probably can’t afford it and they aren’t saving any energy at all.
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