The appliance of science

The Soket: The washing machine of the future

Students at a Tyneside university have come up with some bizarre household appliances of the future.

But the efforts of design students at Northumbria University in Newcastle are not just pie in the sky.

At least one multi-national electronics firm is taking an interest in their work.

As part of their Design for Industry course, students invented a range of futuristic domestic appliances.

They included the Caldo Freddo - a heating and cooling storage solution for those short on space and the Chop Chop - a multi-tasking workstation.

Another invention called the Soket, is being looked at by electrical manufacturer Electrolux.

The Soket claims to be a revolutionary washing machine, designed to make washing clothes a positive experience.

The Chop Chop: A multi-tasking workstation

It holds several small discs or baskets, rather than a single drum.

The discs are slotted into the machine allowing it to run several different programmes simultaneously.

The creations are just some from final year students at the university, who have been working on the project, which is sponsored by Electrolux.

Krista Webb, design manager at Electrolux's industrial design studio, said: "In the 19th Century we had domestic servants to do the household chores.

Easier lives

"At the start of the 21st century, research shows that four out of 10 British people want appliances which will make their lives easier.

"People are simply not interested in technology for technology sake and we believe the concepts designed by the students do just that - provide real and practical solutions."

"Such exciting concept products, although not destined for immediate commercial use, can really provide us with a fresh perspective on how people feel about domestic jobs such as cleaning and cooking.

"These insights, so well articulated by the students' designs, are at the core of how Electrolux approaches innovation.

"These design students are our industry's future, they are the driving force between turning innovation into reality."