Product Features
Appliance and Manufacturer
Color or Type
Price Range
Type of Controls
Comments
Stoves
Whirlpool
All colors
All price ranges
Tactile surfaces
Predictable settings, resets to default predictably, tones with button press. Many participants and others find these controls useful; direct observation of temperature setting is not available nonvisually.
GE
Black and stainless with black
Low to moderate price range
Tactile surfaces
Predictable settings, defaults predictably, tones with button press.
Dishwashers
Whirlpool
All colors
All price ranges
Bubble-like molded tactile control
Predictable settings, easy-to-feel control action, includes clear button.
Bausch (higher-end German brand)
All models, all colors
High price range
Latching mechanical controls or easy-to-feel electronic controls
Some models use LED indicator with no clear button.
Sears Kenmore
Some models/units manufactured by Whirlpool and Bausch
All price ranges
Reflect characteristics of features of Whirlpool and Bausch models.
LG
Some models, all colors
Mid to high price range
Mechanical controls
Easy to feel.
Entry-level models from several brands
Turn-knob mechanical controls, some mechanical buttons
Easy to feel, can check progress of washing cycle by touch.
**Washing Machines***Conventional Top Loading* (typically least expensive models)
Whirlpool
All colors
Low to moderate price range
Conventional knobs with pointed ends
Main timer control creates click sounds and provides feedback as cycles are changed.
Whirlpool
Cabrio (high-efficiency top-loading, to be introduced mid-summer 2006)
High price range
Turn knob with distinct pointer, electronic controls
Click stops indicate cycle selection, bubble controls beep as settings are changed, shares controls with front-loading Duet Sport.
Sears Kenmore
Some models
Low to moderate price range
Conventional knobs with embossed dot indicating pointer marking
Main timer control provides some tactile feedback as cycles are changed.
Maytag
Some models
Low to moderate price range
Conventional knobs with textured pointer marking
Main timer control provides tactile feedback as cycles are changed.
Fisher and Paykel
Echo Smart (high-efficiency top-loading model)
More expensive than many top-loading units
Embossed tactile controls, beep tones
Menu settings accessible with changing tones when top and bottom of menu are reached, up/down button pairs for menu selections, cycles selected by single button press.
Front Loading
Whirlpool
Duet models, all colors
Mid to high price range
Turn knob with distinct pointer, electronic controls
Predictable up/down changes with button press, no tones with button press.
Whirlpool
Duet Sport
Mid price range
Turn knob with distinct pointer, electronic controls
Click stops indicate cycle selection, bubble controls beep as settings are changed. Shares controls with Cabrio top-loading machine.
LG Tronn
Super Capacity, all colors
Mid price range
Unique circular button
Five cycles selected at edge of large button, tone with each button press when making adjustments to settings.
Sears Kenmore
Some models, including HE3 and HE4
Mid to high price range
Easy-to-feel electronic touch controls, cycle selected with single press from circular button array
Predictable menus with up/down button press, no tones with button press.
Sears Kenmore
Models manufactured by Frigidaire
Mid price range
Turn knobs with tactile pointer, distinct buttons to adjust settings
Predictable up/down menu selections.
Clothes Dryers* Standouts included Whirlpool models, Fisher and Paykel basic dryer, and Whirlpool and Sears Kenmore mates for front-loading washing machines
Microwave Ovens**
GE
Embossed touch controls
Whirlpool (over the range)
All colors
Textured surfaces on smooth background
Wall ovens
Whirlpool
All colors
All price ranges
Tactile surfaces
Predictable settings, defaults predictably, tones with button press. Reflects design of Whirlpool ranges.
KitchenAid (high-end brand)
All colors
All price ranges
Subtle tactile surfaces, uses key pad for temperature/time entry, predictable settings
Predictable defaults, tones with button press. Earlier models featured more distinct textures on button surfaces.
Frigidaire
Black and stainless with black controls
Tactile surfaces
Predictable settings, defaults predictably, tones with button press. Textured regions more distinct than some other brands.
* Dryer controls reflect the design of their washing machine mates.
** Microwaves are generally inaccessible, with the exceptions listed here, because of controls that cannot be identified by touch and complex visual displays that do not provide access. A talking microwave oven is offered by several venders of products for people who are visually impaired, including Independent Living Aids. It is a modified off-the-shelf unit, equipped with speech output and tactile controls, priced at $369. Contact: <www.independentliving.com>.
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