Tech History: Washing Machines — then and now
Human civilization has been washing their clothes since the time we discovered stitching leaves to cover our bodies. River streams, wells, tanks, and then wash tanks and communes acted as resources which humans utilized. From pounding the linen on the rocks to using small wooden rollers & planks, humans have always tried to automate this daily necessity. But, it was a laborious procedure.
The quest to automate manual labor:
The inspiration for the modern-day washing machines were the hand-operated drum-based washing tanks which first appeared in 1905. It was an improvised mechanical version inspired by the washing machine invented by German scientist Jacob Christian Schäffer in 1767. The semi-electric version was born only in 1920 after nearly half a century the electric washing machines were invented.
Automatic machines arrive:
By the time the 1930s arrived, we had washing machines that were fully close to being fully automatic — all thanks to the improved switches, thermostats, and timers. As the field of electronics and computers advanced, washing machines came with sensors, spin control, water level measurement, and other key features that are quite common today. The 1990s & 2000s saw massive improvement as the internet age flourished.
Modern washing machines are connected to the internet and are integrated with Wi-Fi. There are voice-controlled models versions available as well. Future models may not require detergents as well because of the work and development in the electrolysis process. To conclude, it took nearly a century for the technology behind the modern washing machine to mature.
