Household Technology

Household Technology

1. Technological Developments

   • Cooking
     • Dual rings
     • Microwaves
     • Induction hobs
   • Entertainment
     • DVDs
     • high-definition televisions
     • Playstations
   • Communications
     • Smarthones
     • Internet
     • email
   • Food preparation
     • Food processors
     • Blenders
     • Coffee machines
   • Security
     • Sensor alarms
     • Lighting
     • Electric gates

2. Contribution to technology to an efficient home

   • In the past, household tasks were time-consuming and labour intensive. Nowadays, technological advances e.g the washing machine, have reduced the amount of labour required, allowing more time for leisure.
   • Computers and tablets can be used to carry out household financial tasks e.g budgeting or online banking, and may also be used to shop online for food or clothing, saving individuals and families time.
   • Homes are now cleaner and more hygienic places to live since appliances e.g vacuum cleaners, are more efficient at cleaning compared to doing the job by hand. This has increased standards of living and reduced health problems e.g asthma
   • Many appliances e.g ovens, now come with automatic timers and pre-programmed tasks, enabling appliances to turn on and off automatically. This is an advantage for individuals with families and a busy lifestyle.
   • Some heating and lighting systems can now be controlled remotely from mobile phones through downloaded applications, this ensures that homes are warm when individuals return home and enhances security as lights can be turned on when people are away

3. Factors to consider when choosing appliances

   • Design
     • Consider appliances that have a design that will coordinate with the existing decor of the home. Check the measurement of the space available in the home to ensure the appliance will fit. The appliance should be easy to operate and should be well designed so that it fulfils its function.
   • Guarantee
     • A guarantee is a written contract between the manufacturer and the consumer which states that if a fault arises within a certain period of time, the manufacturer will repair or replace the appliance free of charge. Consider the terms of the guarantee offered with appliances e.g duration(one year to a lifetime), servicing offered, replacement parts provided.
   • Cleaning/maintenence
     • Ensure appliances are easy to clean in order to reduce the time and effort required to maintain them. Try to avoid appliances with too many crevices or grooves, as dirt can get lodged during use
   • Energy efficiency
     • Refers to how well the appliance uses energy
       • A-rated appliance
         • Should be chosen as they use the least electricity, making them the cheapest to run. They cause the least harm to the environment
       • G-rated appliance
         • Should be avoided as they use the most electricity, making them the most expensive to run. They cause the greatest harm to the environment
   • Cost
     • Initial cost
       • How much it costs in the shops
     • Running costs
       • How much it costs to maintain and run e.g a fridge requires electricity
     • Servicing cost
       • Cost of repair
   • Information
     • Sources information about appliances e.g brands and models available or features included, e.g auto defrost, before buying to ensure it meets specific needs. This information can be found in showrooms, word of mouth, salespeople, etc.