For those who are tired of doing the laundry, Samsung has found an answer: a washing machine that can tell you when your laundry is done via a smartphone app (application) .
Strange though it may seem—“my wife already does that”was a common response among attendees viewing the device when it was introduced at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) this week—Samsung is just one of many appliance makers racing to install (安装) a large number of internet- connected features in machines in an effort to make them“smart. ”
Last year, it was a refrigerator that tweeted. This year, it’s Wi- Fi- enabled laundry machines and fridges that can tell you when your groceries are going bad.
The washers and dryers, available starting in the spring, connect to any smartphone through a downloadable application. The phone can then be used as a remote control, so the machines can be turned on and off while their owner is at work or on the bus.
Samsung says it’s not just something new—the app connection actually has some practical uses.
“If you started to dry clothes in the morning and forgot to take them out, you can go to your phone and restart your dryer for the time when you come home, so your clothes are refreshed and ready to go, ”said spokesperson Amy Schmidt.
The company also says that with electricity rates (电价) varying depending on the time of day, more control over when the machines are used can help save money.
Perhaps, but what they will probably really accomplish is what all good technologies do—enable laziness. Rather than getting up to check on whether the laundry is done, users will instead monitor it on their phones while watching TV.
1. What can be inferred from the common response of the attendees at the CES?
A. The machine will be a big success. B. Their wives like doing the laundry.
C. The machine is unrelated to their life. D. This kind of technology is familiar to them.
2. What can we learn about the new laundry machines?
A. They can tell you when your clothes need washing.
B. They can be controlled with a smartphone.
C. They are difficult to operate.
D. They are sold at a low price.
3. We can conclude from Samsung’s statements that .
A. the app connection makes life easier B. it is better to dry clothes in the morning
C. smartphones can shorten the drying time D. we should refresh clothes back at home
4. What is the main idea of the last paragraph?
A. The laundry should be frequently checked. B. Lazy people like using such machines.
C. Good technologies also cause problems. D. Television may help do the laundry.