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On Washing machines

 We replaced our washing machine after 15 odd years. In those 15 years, we had used exactly one setting of the machine. Everything else was pointless (and not for lack of exploring). 

The older one had 4 options. This one has 8. 

Water level options are the same though (I suspect you cant do much with it) - there seems to be a mapping of the level to the wash program - I havent cracked it yet.

But the automatic function has been messing up things. It apparently weighs the load and then decides - but almost always its decisions seem to be wrong with the result that the clothes were not washed properly. 

The beeps of the older machine were different - this one sounds odd (for now)

We are still getting used to this machine. 

So, ultimately, it is a washing machine. What would make it more user friendly? (No, please dont think IOT and app driven sms, notifications for a wash). I somehow feel it can be far more intuitive. 

Clothes are X. Water level has to be Y (X and a little more) so that it can be above the level of clothes. The powder has to be mixed well. The softener has to be dispensed at a particular time. 

As models and technology evolve, how to make the cooler functions become more intuitive and the basic functions more obvious? Perhaps a good question to ask for everything we design...

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