page 52
End Product Innovations
Water Heaters

page 30
Dishwashers
Sound Dishwasher Design
by Lisa Bonnema, senior editor
Dishwasher engineers are falling back on their mechanical expertise to fine-tune today’s high-tech designs.
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       • Engineering: Dish Drying with Zeolite
       • Improving Dishwasher Efficiency
       • Putting Dishwasher-Safe to the Test

page 21
The Open Door
The Human Side of Six Sigma
by Cristopher del Angel, project manager, Proudfoot Consulting Co.

page 23
Touch Controls
Improving Usability of No- and Low-Travel Touch Controls
by Steve Kingsley-Jones, director of product management, Immersion Corp.
Tactile feedback systems improve the usability of no- and low-travel touch controls by providing confirmation in response to user interactions.

page 27
Electronics Report
Displays Made Easy
LCD modules with touch screens allow engineers to quickly integrate displays into appliance designs.

page 28
Technology Report
Portable Processing Power
High-performance processors and patented battery technology let device designers achieve functionality, low power, and efficiency in a single-board solution.

page 29
Manufacturing Technology
The Rise of Rapid Manufacturing
Direct digital manufacturing (DDM) is making strides in repeatability and accuracy, while eliminating tooling and machining costs.

page 9
Appliance Line
Business in the Future Will Be Brutal
Tim Somheil, Editor
Standard industry practices will include public executions, exploitation of space-time wormholes, and open warfare with competitors.