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Hacking Major Appliances For Fun And Profit?

Posted by Cliff on from the workshop-of-the-budding-inventor dept.

waynelorentz asks: "I've finally reached a point in my life where my time with my family is more important than my money, so I've given in to my wife's persistent urging and bought a Roomba robotic vacuum. While I'm waiting for delivery, I googled for additional information about it and found there is a fledgling community of Roomba hackers outfitting their Roombas with cameras and other equipment. So, it got me wondering - what other appliances have Slashdot-types hacked? I remember when the Internet was young, there were coffee and soda machines you could ping, and the fabled Jellyjet toaster. Anything else?"

6 of 53 comments (clear)

  1. I wired my chainsaw... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    I no longer have a hand, but I now can turn that thing on from any internet connected computer. Just don't make the mistake I did... firewall it.

  2. I think he means the web by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    At least he didn't call it AOL.

  3. Are you and your wife really that lazy? by DAldredge · · Score: 2, Funny

    Are you two so lazy you can vacuum your own home? Damn, it's not that hard.

  4. Demo modes on appliances by Bob+Cat+-+NYMPHS · · Score: 2, Funny

    Most with an LED display have them. Usually it scrolls some 'buy me, I can do blahblahblah' msg, and a clued store will set it on. But you can do it to your friend's new microwave oven if you want to annoy them. The manual will tell you how to do it.
    But your friend is too stupid to RTFM, right?

    --
    The latest Slashdot meme.
  5. Re:When the internet was young.. by Bishop923 · · Score: 4, Funny

    I remember fingering the coke machine back in 1990 or so.

    Must... withstand... urge... to make... smartass... remark...

  6. Retro hacking by YrWrstNtmr · · Score: 2, Funny

    Not a hack, but something to do with old appliances.

    Upon the demise of my last dryer (once you let the magic smoke out...), I said "well...let's take it apart. Maybe we can reuse some of the parts." (motor for a future Battlebot, maybe?)

    Strip it down...take the drum out.

    You know that drawer you have, full of odd socks that you wife is always yelling at you about?

    Well..the dryer actually does eat them. I pulled a double handful of odd socks, and about $4 in change and bills out of the bottom.

    Forget the fancy hack, and just hack it apart.