LG boosts accessibility to home appliances for disabled people

LG Electronics Inc. on September 1 will unveil its Universal Up Kit, which enhances accessibility to home appliances, at this year's IFA, Europe’s largest trade show for such devices in Berlin, Germany.

Featuring accessories that ease use of the company's home appliances, the kit boasts universal designs that make utilization of the devices regardless of gender, age or disability.

The Easy Handle for use with a washing machine allows a user with physical disabilities like no muscle strength or the ability to make delicate hand movements to easily open and close the washer door. Those with poor vision can also immediately recognize the accessory thanks to its high-contrast colors.

The Auxiliary Pedestal enables easy control of a cordless vacuum cleaner with little effort, Easy Hanger places clothes on the LG Styler's moving hanger even if the user sits in a wheelchair, Rotary Shelf facilitates use of a refrigerator's internal space, Easy Nozzle attaches to a water purifier to adjust the height and Braille Silicon Remote Control Cover is for the visually impaired.

Through consultations with an advisory group of people with physical disabilities like those related to hearing, vision and brain lesions, LG Electronics analyzed the pain points, or things making users feel uncomfortable, experienced while using home appliances by type and product. The result was a set of accessories capable of practical improvements and easily attachable and detachable from products to raise accessibility to home appliances.

Write to Ye-Rin Choi at rambutan@hankyung.com