LG rolls out smart appliances with ‘HomeChat’

HomeChat employs Natural Language Processing (NLP) and LINE, the popular mobile messenger app with over 300 million users, to let homeowners communicate, control, monitor and share content with LG’s latest smart appliances, a statement signed by Seong-jin Jo, president and CEO of the LG Electronics Home Appliance Company, said at the weekend.Introducing a whole new […]

HomeChat employs Natural Language Processing (NLP) and LINE, the popular mobile messenger app with over 300 million users, to let homeowners communicate, control, monitor and share content with LG’s latest smart appliances, a statement signed by Seong-jin Jo, president and CEO of the LG Electronics Home Appliance Company, said at the weekend.
Introducing a whole new level of convenience, the company’s premium smart appliance lineup includes a camera-equipped refrigerator, a washing machine that allows users to start and download washing cycles remotely via HomeChat and a Lightwave oven that supports NFC and WiFi for convenient control from any location.
LG HomeChat incorporates the popular LINE application to allow users to receive recommendations and control settings when away from home. With an intuitive interface, HomeChat makes communicating with LG’s smart refrigerator, washing machine or oven much like chatting with a close friend. For extra convenience, the Quick Button feature enables fast and easy access to each appliance’s most commonly used functions. HomeChat also gives users the choice of three different modes: Vacation, Away and Return-home. LG’s new service even brings an element of fun to appliances, offering a selection of over 40 unique LINE stickers to add an enjoyable, personal component to conversations.
“Today’s intelligent home appliances offer a variety of useful functions but many consumers still find setting them up an extremely complicated process.”  Seong-jin Jo said.
“Not only does LG HomeChat help simplify and enhance our products, they also deliver a unique user experience, adding even more value to our customers’ lives. LG’s most advanced smart refrigerator incorporates several breakthrough innovations, such as the Smart View feature. Using the industry’s first built-in internal refrigerator camera positioned at the top of the main compartment, users can monitor exactly what’s inside their refrigerator, on their smartphones or tablets. The wide angle camera can show content not only in the upper shelves, but also food items on the bottom-most shelf. The built-in camera detects the opening and closing of the refrigerator, capturing images of the food items stored inside when last opened. Using HomeChat, users can immediately see exactly what they need to buy when they are at the grocery store or supermarket”, he added.
He said LG’s unique Health Manager can make recipe recommendations as well as daily and weekly meal plans based on the user’s personal profile: age, sex, weight and height information are used to determine body mass index (BMI), which is then used to create an appropriate, personalized meal plan.
He also said among the groundbreaking innovations in home appliance is the LG Smart washing machine, which allows consumers to remotely control and monitor their LG smart washing machine from outside the home using HomeChat.  
“By texting start washing cycle when they head for home, LG’s smart washing machine will ensure that the laundry is completed by the time they get home. And by texting what are you doing? users can receive real time updates on the washer’s progress. LG’s smart washing machine is equipped with an intuitive smart touch display that makes it easy to select or download appropriate wash cycles via a WiFi connection”, he revealed.