'Deep learning' takes smart home to the next level
<p>LG is equipping its home appliances with deep learning technology to help them better understand their users.</p>
LG Electronics is taking its smart home appliances to college.
Specifically, the appliances will be equipped with deep learning technology to better understand their users' lifestyle patterns.
The learning is an ongoing process that allows the appliances to continually improve over time to provide customers with new solutions.
"Deep learning technology is the next phase in the evolution of smart appliances, and as an industry leader, we have the responsibility of being an early mover," said Song Dae-hyun, president of LG Electronics and Home Appliance & Air Solutions Company. "But even more important than what appliances are capable of will be how companies behave when entrusted with data. At LG, we believe performance and convenience do not mean having to sacrifice security and privacy. They can and should exist simultaneously."
The appliances will include a robotic vacuum cleaner with multiple sensors to recognize objects around the home, such as wires and shoes, and react accordingly. By capturing surface images of different rooms, the intelligent cleaner remembers obstacles and learns to avoid them over time -- not to mention differentiate between them and a person. Should someone stand directly in the vacuum's path, it will politely ask that they step aside in order to continue the cleaning process.
A smart refrigerator will also be capable of analyzing usage and eating patterns in order to "predict" the family's activities based on their past behavior (and then automatically fill the ice tray at the time of the day when cold drinks are most in demand, or extend food life when temperature and humidity conditions might contribute to food spoilage).
LG's smart air conditioner analyzes the daily behavior patterns of its homeowners, including the parts of the home most occupied at certain times throughout the day.
And finally, a smart washing machine tracks the user's everyday activities in order to provide the optimal performance. For example, in areas with hard water, LG's smart washing machine adjusts the temperature and the amount of water used to counter the effects of hard water on clothes. In areas where dust storms are common, the washing machine automatically adds another rinse cycle for enhanced cleaning.
