2008 Woodie Awards
Why Is my Washer Talking to Me?
Shoshana Flax
Issue date: 2/9/05 Section: News
Goucher is using the Heubeck laundry room as a test site for eSuds, the latest in laundry technology.
ESuds allows students to learn which washers and dryers are available, as well as whether their laundry is done, via the internet.
After accessing the eSuds website (www.goucher.esuds.net), students can determine which washers and dryers are in use and the time remaining for each load in progress. Students can also opt to have the system e-mail them upon completion of a load.
"Students have complained about carrying their laundry to the facilities multiple times only to find the machines constantly in use," said Calvin Gladden, Director of Business and Auxiliary Services. "This required them to either sit and wait for an open machine or make multiple trips down to the facility."
While Gladden learned about eSuds in November, extenuating circumstances, such as a shift in OneCard administrators, pushed back its debut until the start of the semester.
"ESuds approached us about their new innovative technology and asked us to be a beta site to test it," said Gladden. "Since Heubeck is one of the busiest laundry facilities on campus, we selected it as the beta site because it will truly measure the effectiveness of the eSuds program during the testing period."
Goucher does not have to pay to test the technology, although the cost of installing the system full-time is not yet known. The use of laundry facilities remains included in the cost of room and board.
Developed by USA Technologies of Malvern, Pennsylvania, the eSuds system is already in effect at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
"This puts Goucher at the head of the pack when it comes to laundry technology and caring for their students," said William Jensen, Director of
Operations for Caldwell and Gregory.
In order to put the system in place, washers and dryers compatible to the system were installed. Gladden said that the previous machines, property of the company that distributes them, have most likely been redistributed to other institutions.
As he removed his laundry from Heubeck Dryer Number 13 a day after Gladden's announcement of eSuds system's activation, David Sands '06 said, "It was more convenient to look online to see if it was open or not."
"To be honest," said Ashlie Swallow '07, "when I first heard the whole thing about checking online to see if there were free washers, I thought it was a little silly. How far are we going to go with technology before it's too far?"
Still, Gladden is optimistic about the potential benefits of the technology.
"We hope that if eSuds is successful it will eliminate some of the time students commit to doing their laundry," he said. "It will hopefully result in students having more time to devote to their academic pursuits."
ESuds allows students to learn which washers and dryers are available, as well as whether their laundry is done, via the internet.
After accessing the eSuds website (www.goucher.esuds.net), students can determine which washers and dryers are in use and the time remaining for each load in progress. Students can also opt to have the system e-mail them upon completion of a load.
"Students have complained about carrying their laundry to the facilities multiple times only to find the machines constantly in use," said Calvin Gladden, Director of Business and Auxiliary Services. "This required them to either sit and wait for an open machine or make multiple trips down to the facility."
While Gladden learned about eSuds in November, extenuating circumstances, such as a shift in OneCard administrators, pushed back its debut until the start of the semester.
"ESuds approached us about their new innovative technology and asked us to be a beta site to test it," said Gladden. "Since Heubeck is one of the busiest laundry facilities on campus, we selected it as the beta site because it will truly measure the effectiveness of the eSuds program during the testing period."
Goucher does not have to pay to test the technology, although the cost of installing the system full-time is not yet known. The use of laundry facilities remains included in the cost of room and board.
Developed by USA Technologies of Malvern, Pennsylvania, the eSuds system is already in effect at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
"This puts Goucher at the head of the pack when it comes to laundry technology and caring for their students," said William Jensen, Director of
Operations for Caldwell and Gregory.
In order to put the system in place, washers and dryers compatible to the system were installed. Gladden said that the previous machines, property of the company that distributes them, have most likely been redistributed to other institutions.
As he removed his laundry from Heubeck Dryer Number 13 a day after Gladden's announcement of eSuds system's activation, David Sands '06 said, "It was more convenient to look online to see if it was open or not."
"To be honest," said Ashlie Swallow '07, "when I first heard the whole thing about checking online to see if there were free washers, I thought it was a little silly. How far are we going to go with technology before it's too far?"
Still, Gladden is optimistic about the potential benefits of the technology.
"We hope that if eSuds is successful it will eliminate some of the time students commit to doing their laundry," he said. "It will hopefully result in students having more time to devote to their academic pursuits."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
pcowan
pcowan
posted 2/11/05 @ 6:04 PM EST
The correct URL is http://goucher.esuds.net
Washer parts
posted 4/14/08 @ 4:43 PM EST
Well this is ingenious, the method can spare you a great deal of effort. Aren't the students allowed with their own washers in the campus. I am curious to know about this because in my campus washers were not allowed, I think it was because they wanted to control the water consume. (Continued…)
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