Post #460288

2026-02-28 13:06 UTC

Business idea that I’m working on: Home appliances that are as analog as possible while being efficient. My washing machine doesn’t need wi-fi. My stove doesn’t require a subscription. My fridge doesn’t need to have a screen shoving ads in my face. And all of them should be trivially repairable. I know there are enough people who have guns pointed at their printers in case the printer develops an attitude; I’m certain there are people who would go for this.

Replies (12)

@mral@mastodon.sdf.org 2026-02-28 13:19

@Aphrodite I dont have a gun pointed at my printer but I do have a keyboard pointed at my computer at all time.

Open ##2103908
@EndicottAuthor@mastodon.social 2026-02-28 14:34

@Aphrodite I never thought such basic home appliances needed any kind of internet connection. Dumb as hell.

Open ##2103910
@plsik@mastodon.social 2026-02-28 14:40

@Aphrodite I don't have a gun pointed at my computer because it runs Linux. And my printer is connected to the computer—ta-da—with a cable.

Open ##2103911
@australopithecus@mastodon.social 2026-02-28 15:11

@Aphrodite Fwiw, if you've got extra money to spend on it, you can still buy commercial appliances and get this. eg. SpeedQueen for washer/dryer, webstaurantstore.com for kitchen stuff, and commercial displays ("digital signage") from the usual makers.

Open ##2103913
@benrob0329@dice.camp 2026-02-28 15:18

@Aphrodite I've wanted to do something like this so many times, but I haven't the resources to make it happen.

Open ##2103916
@max@manmachine.me 2026-02-28 15:41

I adore my coffee machine and rice cooker for being exactly that; not only they don't need any wi-fi, they don't contain any microchips whatsoever, the most intelligent thing in them are some bimetallic strips and clicky switches.

Open ##2103922
@emily_s@mastodon.me.uk 2026-02-28 16:18

@Aphrodite oooh!!! Can you do TVs that just render what's sent over the input ports? either way: shut_up_and_take_my_money.gif

Open ##2103924
@dmarti@federate.social 2026-02-28 16:21

@Aphrodite Excellent idea. There is a thriving forum scene doing repair+restoration of pre-digital Maytag and Whirlpool washers and dryers. Now I wonder if a new company could start with upgrade parts for classic machines and introduce complete appliances and/or kits as the supply of the old ones dries up

Open ##2103926
@awfulwoman@indieweb.social 2026-02-28 16:39

@Aphrodite here to agree on no wifi, but to make the case for Zigbee or Matter over Thread. Neither of them are network based and are both purely local. I’d like to know when my washing machine is finished so I can have ADHD-friendly alerts. Definitely everything repairable as a first principle!

Open ##2103927
@coolcalmcollected@mastodon.social 2026-02-28 17:09

@Aphrodite parts suppliers would be key to this. making something repairable is great but if the owner doesn't know where/how to get parts, that's a road block. connecting with salvagers (junk yard parts), 3rd party parts suppliers, OEM sources contact information, available to buyers, at point of purchase would go a long way to making a purchase more likely.

Open ##2103928
@gkrnours@mastodon.gamedev.place 2026-02-28 18:04

@Aphrodite have you heard of openfunk's re:mix? It's an open source blender, technical info including schematic is available at https://github.com/openfunkHQ/reMix/blob/main/reMix_Technical%20description%2C%20BOM%20%26%20Assembly%20Guide_Github_2312.pdf

Open ##2103930
@maypop_neocities@wetdry.world 2026-03-01 00:52

@Aphrodite also can they have braille and raised lettering? i'm not blind but i'd appreciate the show of basic human decency.

Open ##2103931