[Electronics-Talk] Accessible Washing Machines

Sat Jan 7 21:07:34 UTC 2023

As you can probably guess from the subject line, we are in the market for a
new washer.  Saw 4 potential options at Lowes, so was wondering if anyone
has experience with any of them.  I am pleased to report that the sales
person went and got an extension cord and plugged in the machines we wanted
to look at.  

Here are the models with notes about what I was able to observe.

LG washer model WM4200HBA

And

LG washer model WM4000HBA

*	Has a stand-a-lone physical power button.  I think it also had a
stand-a-lone physical button for starting.
*	The cycle selector has defined clicks that you could easily feel as
you turned the knob, along with an audible tone. 
*	However, the knob did not have an indicator/pointer, and a complete
revolution of the knob did not return you to where you started from.  
*	When you turn the machine off and then turn it back on, you are back
at the "Normal" cycle and its default settings.  You could keep a braille
list of the cycles in the order of their position around the knob, and just
count the clicks/beeps.
*	There is a touch screen with buttons along the sides and bottom.
There is a very thin seem around the outer edge of the touch screen. 
*	If you drag your finger across the buttons on the touch screen or
accidentally touch one of the buttons, it will be activated.
*	There is some room around the outside of the touch panel to place
abbreviated braille labels or at least an indicator dot so that you could
get lined up with the button.
*	When you touch the touch screen, there is a beep.  There are only 2
different sounds.  One indicates that something changed, and the other
indicates that there was no change.  The beeps do not tell you if you have
cycled through all of the choices, so you do not know how many options there
are.  Whether a feature is available and the number of options for it, is
different for each cycle.  For my current washer that just bit the dust I
had a document on my computer that outlined each of the cycles, the
available features and their options.  I had always planned on brailling it
up, or finding someone to do it for me, and never did.
*	Although we did not test the dryer, it looks like the controls are
set up like the washer.

GE washer model GFW550SSN2WW

*	The Power and Start Button are combined on a small touch pad, but it
is easy to use it.  The Power is at the top edge, and the start is on the
bottom edge.  I can't remember if they required pressure to activate, I
think it was just a touch.
*	The cycle selector knob clicked and had beeps, along with a pointer.
You could add braille labels and this would be pretty accessible.
*	There is a touch screen to change the settings for the cycles.  
*	There are buttons on the sides and bottom of the touch screen.  
*	There are thin lines between the buttons, but if you drag your
finger from button to button you will be activating each button you touch.  
*	There is some room around the outside of the touch screen where you
could place tactile indicators or abbreviated braille labels.
*	You will need a cheat-sheet of some type to know which features are
available in each cycle, and what the available options are for each
feature.
*	There were audible beeps, but they were hard to hear in the store.
It was not apparent if there is a volume control.
*	Although we did not test the dryer, it looks like the controls are
set up like the washer.

Samsung washer model WF45B6300AC

*	There is a touch screen to control everything accept select the
cycles.
*	The buttons are on the sides and bottom of the touch screen, but
there is some braille and tactile indicator dots.  Yes, actual braille and
tactile marks.  The sales person was as shocked as we were.
*	The Power button is on the top-right corner and there is a braille
"P" off the right edge of the touch screen.  
*	Below the Power button is the start button and there is a braille
"S" off the right edge of the touch screen.
*	All other buttons along the left and bottom have a single dot to
indicate where they are.  You would have to add your own braille labels.
*	If you drag your fingers across the touch screen, you will be
activating the buttons.
*	There are beeps for every time you touch the touch screen.  
*	If a feature being activated on the touch screen has multiple
options, the pitch will change for each press of the button, and when you
get back to the top of the list the tone starts from the first pitch.  This
helps you know how many options there are for that feature, within that
cycle.  This is how the beeps worked on my now non-working Whirlpool Duet.
*	The cycle selector knob does click and does beep as you turn it.  It
does not have an indicator/pointer and one revolution is not equal to
navigating through all of the cycle options.  Did not test to see if when
you turn the machine off if it goes back to the default settings.
*	Although we did not test the dryer, it looks like the controls are
set up like the washer.

These were not the actual models we were looking for, but they are what
Lowes has.  We are going to do a bit more research and I will let you know
what I learn.  If anyone has any additional information about these models,
good or bad, I would love it if you would share.  Of course, any
recommendations for a washer you found to be accessible is welcome. 

Thanks,

Annette

hear

Annette Carr

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Independent Consultant

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