From 3D to i-Dos: 2010 IFA trends

The consumer electronics industry has also come up with a number of new innovations that take the sting out of oft-dreaded household tasks like cooking, cleaning and laundry – without breaking the family bank. The latest devices by leading German brands such as Siemens, Bosch and Miele have put the focus on sustainability and efficiency. The main goals are helping the environment and conserving water and power.

The i-Dos dispensing system automates the wash cycle

One example is a new technology called "i-Dos." Though it might sound like an Apple product, the device has nothing to do with multimedia. The i-Dos is the first washing machine to feature an integrated, fully automated dispensing system.

"The washing machine automatically recognizes which laundry is in the machine, how dirty it is, and which type of textile is in the machine," Siemens Electronic Devices CEO Roland Hagenbucher said. "And then it dispenses exactly the right amount of detergent."

Because the i-Dos system is automated, it allows consumers to save 7,062 liters of water each year, according to Bosch representative Volker Klodwig.

"That's 58 bathtubs, to illustrate it that way," he said.

Roland Hagenbucher says it's a product that puts some fun into the wash-and-rinse cycle.

And companies hope that will be enough to bring in the masses – as well as those visitors whose eyes are glued to the array of TV sets and multimedia devices on display at IFA 2010.

Author: Manfred Böhm (arp)
Editor: Cyrus Farivar