Whirlpool and a handful of technology partners are currently testing a washer/dryer set that ties in with computers and cell phones. The "smart" appliances are now in use at three homes in Atlanta. Partners on the project include Microsoft and Cingular Wireless.
Consumers can also get instant messages from computers or cell phones telling them, for instance, that a wash cycle is completed or that a dryer has not been turned on. At the press of a button on a cell phone, families participating in the test can extend a drying cycle and perform other laundry tasks while running errands.