The smart phone has transformed how consumers expect to interact with products across markets, from automobile consoles to automated ordering systems at fast food restaurants.

The same transformation impacts home appliance displays and interfaces. Engineers have improved the functionality and design of digital displays substantially since the first smart fridge debuted in 2000 with a price tag equal to a sedan. Even as costs have come down and functionality has improved, appliance makers still battle with the reality that consumer technology often becomes obsolete at a much faster rate than the expected lifetime of durable white goods.