Your Turn washing machine makes sure it's your turn

A Spanish designer has created a new washing machine called the "Your Turn" that addresses the chore imbalance in certain households by making it impossible for the same person to operate the machine twice in a row. Both parties have to register their fingerprints using a biometric scanner that's plugged into the washing machine, which will only work if it scans a different finger than the one used before (you could also trick the machine and use two of your own fingers when you first set things up, but you'd only be fooling yourself right?). We'll leave it to the Judith Butlers and Donna Haraways of the world to divine the social implications of this attempt to bring gender parity to world of laundry-doing, and instead simply mention how this seems like a completely clever idea until your significant other goes away for a few days and you're stuck reprogramming your washing machine because you need to do a second load of whites that weekend. (The other major flaw with the Your Turn: the chore robot we built doesn't have fingerprints.)

[Thanks, Matt]

[Myria @ Dec 19th 2005 12:13AM]

An idea only a divorce lawyer could love...

[zee @ Dec 19th 2005 12:13AM]

thats only provoking more household violence :/

[Finishing.Law.School @ Dec 19th 2005 12:13AM]

What happens when someone dies? "Oh, excuse me, can you cut off her finger and place it in a bag for me, I haven't been able to do the laundry for weeks."

[Matt @ Dec 19th 2005 12:13AM]

i can make me wash the clothes, but it can't make me fold them!!!

[Lee @ Dec 19th 2005 12:13AM]

That makes no sense whatsoever. Now, if they used the fingerprint thing to prevent people from stealing the machine you were waiting for at the laundrymat, that would make some sense.

[Raian @ Dec 19th 2005 12:13AM]

I wonder how long it will be before Japanese housewives start cutting off their fingers to avoid work?

[Gordo @ Dec 19th 2005 12:13AM]

Ha, it needs two prints and my wife's got two thumbs. Just like she'll have two black eyes if I have to tell her to wash my clothes twice. Problem solved.


j/k

[Bill Smith @ Dec 19th 2005 12:13AM]

Hey! Great site.

[TIMMAH! @ Dec 19th 2005 12:13AM]

How do they prevent the fingers from being attached to the same person? I see a great market for cadaver parts...

[Cameron @ Dec 19th 2005 12:13AM]

Also, I like doing the laundry. A lot.

[MikeMc @ Dec 19th 2005 12:13AM]

I really don't understand the value of this at all. If I'm not going to do my share of the laundry, how does the fact that you can't do it mean I will?

[rocky @ Dec 19th 2005 12:13AM]

this would be wonderful in college dorms where there tend to be lines for washers & dryers. and no fingerprints necessary, just integrate the software into existing smartcards.

[PaulM @ Dec 19th 2005 12:13AM]

This is a publicity stunt on the part of a retailer in Barcelona called Servei Estacio http://www.serveiestacio.com/ and a creative agency called DeBuenaTinta http://www.debuenatinta.es/ I doubt any sane person would actually buy one of these except as a joke. Here's an article with more information and pictures http://www.ipfrontline.com/depts/article.asp?id=2305&deptid=8.

[G?e� @ Dec 19th 2005 12:13AM]

Won't it be nice when this technology comes out in lawn mowers, car engines and the pool filter.

[Big Dan @ Dec 19th 2005 12:13AM]

Can it be made to work with a refrigerator?

[airline tickets @ Dec 19th 2005 12:13AM]

Can it work with a dishwasher?