IDEO - Merloni Elletrodomestici - Home Smart Monitor

Merloni Elletrodomestici, one of Europe's largest appliance manufacturers, offers a line of smart home appliances that use fuzzy logic to operate more efficiently. Merloni developed the Home Smart Monitor to allow these appliances to talk to each other through the existing power wiring and better utilize this distributed intelligence. As originally conceived, the HSM regulates power in the home, warns of potential interruptions, and allows Merloni technicians to diagnose problems remotely. IDEO worked closely with Merloni to expand the capabilities of the Home Smart Monitor and increase its connection with the daily life of the family. By adding interactive functions, it acts as a family message center, provides radio and Internet access, and enables centralized control of appliances (to allow telecooking, for instance). This transformed the HSM from a passive device into a continuous-use tool that gives Merloni a platform to offer new features, and elevates Merloni's profile from an appliance manufacturer to a trusted service provider.

IDEO Design Source : Ideo.com

Created : October 10, 1998
Last updated : April 2, 1999