HP Planning to Bring WebOS to Home Appliances?
Posted by Becky Vickman on Tue, Aug 23, 2011 @ 02:21 PM
Last week Hewlett-Packard Co. was in the news for a reason not expected by very many consumers.
According to The Wall Street Journal in an article published on Tuesday, August 16, 2011, HP envisions a world where many of the products consumers use can connect to the Internet and have WebOS functionality. The computer vendor is looking to extend the utility of its operating system by incorporating WebOS within kitchen appliances.
HP believes its WebOS, which uses touch commands and connects to the Internet, can make machines easier to use while adding functionality. For example, a touch screen could replace the buttons on a stove, displaying recipes pulled from the Internet. Under the same concept, a refrigerator could be programmed to make ice at certain times of the day.
HP hopes getting WebOS in appliances and other consumer items will create an ecosystem of devices and accessories built around its operating system. HP then hopes this will encourage developers to write programs that can be used on these products, creating a market of software similar to Apple’s app store. Therefore, creating a regular and predictable stream of income for the company.
WebOS is mainly seen as a solid and easy-to-use operating system. The software has a natural look and feel, and it gathers information from email accounts and social networks to create address books and calendars. Many large corporations, including Virgin America Inc., said it is studying options on how to use this operating system to provide upgraded services to its customer while they are flying.
At the same time, many manufacturers aren’t sold on the need to have such a complex system in relatively low-tech products. Whirlpool, which also owns brands Maytag and KitchenAid, told the Journal that it wouldn’t be adding WebOS to any of its appliances. Whirlpool said it is skeptical WebOS will hold up over the long period of time appliances are designed to last. Instead, Whirlpool wants to connect its appliances to the Internet so they can alert customers via smartphone when there is a problem.
Other appliance makers have ventured into Internet functionality already. For example, Samsung has added apps to one of its French-door refrigerators, allowing customers to download recipes, stream music while they are cooking and keep an online calendar on the appliance.
With time, consumers will see how technology and the growing trend of connected devices will play into their everyday lives. Will we start to see more appliances that have the capability to stream music, display recipes and make ice at certain times of the day? Only time will tell.
