Hot offerings at gadget show
Ever dreamed of owning a washing machine which also ironed your clothes? Or how about a TV which stores over 20,000 albums and 200 DVDs? Ever dreamed of owning a washing machine which also ironed your clothes? Or how about a TV which stores over 20,000 albums and 200 DVDs? The Smart Homes Show at Birmingham's NEC is showcasing the latest time and space-saving gadgets for the home. On until Sunday, the exhibition, which is running alongside the Homebuilding and Renovating Show, displays to visitors that they can live in relatively-affordable luxury. Among the attractions at the show are David Free's fireplaces which cleverly conceal a plasma TV, which rises from inside the fireplace. Read the full story in the Express & Star.
The Smart Homes Show at Birmingham's NEC is showcasing the latest time and space-saving gadgets for the home.
On until Sunday, the exhibition, which is running alongside the Homebuilding and Renovating Show, displays to visitors that they can live in relatively-affordable luxury. Among the attractions at the show are David Free's fireplaces which cleverly conceal a plasma TV, which rises from inside the fireplace.
David, from Surrey, said he came up with the idea after moving into a small house which didn't have enough room for a fireplace and a TV.
He said: "I had the idea when I couldn't fit a television in my living room and I didn't want to have a screen on the wall."
Also attracting a lot of attention at the show is the world's first steam washing machine.
Sue Smith from Kingswinford, is digital appliance trainer for LG who created the Steam Direct Drive.
She said: "The machine steam cleans garments as part of the main wash which means clothes come out fresh and crease-free.
"There is also a 20 minute setting which can be used on clean clothes which may just smell of smoke or need freshening."
Hugh Whalley, Siemens Business Manager, who is based at Lakeside Plaza in Cannock, said: "We now have TVs with 1.5 terabyte - which is over 1,000 gigabytes and they can store 20,000 music albums and 200 DVDs."
Other items on show include digital photoframes, which also play movies, and loudspeakers which can be inserted into a wall or ceiling and then plastered over.
Barry Williams and Shelley Moore from Aldridge-based Technik2/ACT were showcasing their latest security systems – such as fingerprint technology to open front doors.
Barry said: "The pad, which is next to the door, recognises your fingerprint and so there is no need to carry around a bunch of keys."
