Self-setting oven

The oven scans the bar code on food packaging and programmes itself to the correct temperature and cooking duration. In the Electrolux Live in, system the user programmes on to the screen the food type to be cooked and a cooking time is then advised. Manual adjustments can be made to suit personal preferences.

Label-reading washer

A washing machine that can "read" the washing instructions on clothing labels and programme itself accordingly. It can also adjust itself to the weight of the wash and the drying finish required, e.g., iron ready or bone dry.

Dish/clothes-washing combo

A combined washing machine and dishwasher which saves water: water from the last two rinses in the washing machine is used for the first two washes in the dishwasher. Shower-size dryer

Small apartments are notoriously tight on space. The shower-sized clothes drying unit, top, is designed to collapse so it can be folded away and stored under a bed.

Pay per wash

Laundrette users are familiar with to the concept of pay per wash but appliance manufacturers are testing the concept for home use. The idea is that users only pay for what they use.

Multi-user oven

An oven that is divided into several compartments, each of which can be individually programmed. The idea is that each member of the family can cook his or her own meal, e.g., pizza, a chicken dish, fish etcetera at the same time.

Sensor lighting system

A lighting system that can sense when people are in the room and can turn of lights when they leave.