subject: The Primary Features Of Appliances [print this page] The term appliances is used to define a variety of different products. Each of which serve a different purpose in a specific field. Some common uses: medical, custom-fitted devices that aid in the correction of a physical or dental issue; home, these units may be considered major or small; and software and computer.
The most common general use for this word is in reference to the various household machines. These devices may be mechanical or electrical and are used to perform household functions, primarily of the cleaning or cooking sort. These units can be classified as: major appliances or white goods, small appliances or brown goods, or consumer electronics or shiny goods.
Often, brown goods require some technical knowledge and skills to be correctly operated. They are small in their size, usually electrical and mostly use for the purpose of entertainment. Examples of these goods: answering machines, TV sets, camcorders, home cinema, still cameras, video game consoles, telephones, TV sets, clocks, Hi-Fi, and CD and DVD players. Some goods may have wood or bakelite added to give a finished appearance; however, this is not as common in modern times.
Contrastingly, white goods require more practical capabilities and know how. Some popular examples of white goods: refrigerator, water heater, dishwasher, trash compactor, air conditioner, kitchen stove, microwave ovens, drying cabinet, clothes dryer, washing machine, induction cookers and freezer. These units are used frequently and for more practical purposes. Often these devices are enamelled white or paint.
In recent years, there is a growing demand to network such devices together, combining their major functions and controls. An example would be managing the distribution of energy by placing the oven in a delayed starting mode while the washing machine is on. Or washing machines and dryers may share info about the characteristics of the load, cycle size and type, and then synchronize finish times so that wet laundry never has to wait to go into the drying device.
In some parts of the world, there have been mandates placed on recycling of these products. This is done to ensure that harmful, toxic substances are not being exposed to the environment and negatively impacting the ecosystem. The amount of legislation for appliance recycling will depend on the area. In The United State, each state issues its own policies.
The price for such items is expected to range. There are numerous factors that can influence the overall price paid. For instance: whether the good is brown, shiny or white, the machine model and the retailer. Offline and online retailers have these products available for purchase, and there are many different brands and manufacturers. When picking a machine, there are things that should be considered. Most white goods are purchased with an interest on design and function. With brown goods, popularity of the product and the personal preference of the buyer play major roles, as the product is likely to be used for entertainment.
The word appliances is used as a blanket term to describe various items used in a number of fields, such as technology, lifestyle and medical. Household appliances is a popular usage that refers to machines that are known as small or major. The small being items used for entertainment purposes and the latter involving items designed for more practical use.
