Bosch Puts New Spin on Washer and Dryer Controls
By Hodges, Bradley; Access World, Vol. 10, No. 6Publication Date: November 2009
Article reviews features of Bosch Vision 500 front loading clothes washers and dryers that are accessible to blind and visually impaired users. The controls on the machines were found to resemble the traditional controls or older models in that they use a main rotary control with click settings for fabric type and washing and drying temperatures. The controls click into place as they are turned; a clearly identifiable notch on the outer edge of the dial indicates the pointer for the main control. The machines also feature buttons for selections including Spin Speed, Delay Start, Eco-Wash, and Final Rinse which, when pressed, produced a good mechanical feel according to the reviewer. The Spin Speed selector always returns to the same selection for a given cycle, so that knowing the order of speeds makes it possible to count button presses for the desired speed if different from the default. The Time Dry dial on the dryer provides times in 20-minute increments. An area behind the cycle selection was deemed to offer ample room for tactile or Braille marking. Two essentially similar models of the washer and dryer were reviewed, with the higher-end model offering an additional steam feature in its dryer and a delay start control in the washer.
Assistive Products Discussed: BOSCH VISION 500 SERIES WASHER
BOSCH VISION 500 SERIES DRYER
Published by: AFB Press (Website:http://www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=46)
American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) (Web Site: http://www.afb.org )
Link to text: http://www.afb.org/afbpress/pub.asp?DocID=aw100606
