HFN Staff Report
When thinking of new technology, home furnishings don’t necessarily come to mind—but think again. Technology is increasingly being used by the industry’s vendors to differentiate their offerings—and in some cases, create whole new categories. Here are some of our favorite forward-looking products from this year’s trade shows.
1 America’s Electric
Multi-Cooker, Fagor
For maximum convenience of one-pot meals, the 6-quart Electric Multi-Cooker functions in three ways: as a pressure cooker, a slow cooker and a rice cooker. The pressure-cooking function has two settings, high and low, and the self-locking lid comes with an automatic pressure release setting and will not open while there is pressure in the cooker. The traditional slow cooker offers flexible programming up to 9.5 hours. The product also features a brown and warm function, and the removable cooking pot is dishwasher-safe and non-stick-coated. With a sleek stainless-steel design, the cooker has soft-touch control buttons, anti-overheating protection for added security and a booklet of 40 recipes.
2 Platinum Luxe Sanctuary, Hollandia International
The Platinum Luxe Sanctuary is perfect for the person that likes to watch television in bed. It’s a 32-inch, flat-panel, high-definition TV that rises and lowers from the foot of the bed. From a sleep standpoint, the Platinum Luxe Sanctuary features two motors that adjust both sides of the bed, plus two massage systems with 12 programs for each mechanism, along with a memory of the last programming. The massage function also includes a timer that shuts the massage off automatically after 30 minutes. It even has a safe hidden in the headrest for valuables.
3 Full Body Sensor Body Composition
Monitor and Scale, Omron
Omron’s Full Body Sensor is like a bathroom scale for the future, but it’s available now. The Full Body Sensor measures body fat, body mass and weight using bioelectrical impedance, a technology that charts the flow of electricity through the body by taking measurements from the hands and feet.
4 Fine T, Meyer Corp.
The first premium gourmet small electrics product from Meyer’s IQ Innovations brand, the Fine T is an electric tea maker that brews any type of loose tea leaves. Whether the consumer favors black or oolong tea, more delicate exotic white tea or fragile green tea, the Fine T features seven settings that match the tea being used to its ideal water temperature and infusion time. For a milder brew, an eighth tea-wash setting lets the leaves be used again. A 24-hour clock and programmable timer allows the user to preset brewing times, and the Fine T shuts off after 30 minutes to preserve the flavor of the tea.
5 Pandigital’s Kitchen
Technology Center
Whether used as a high-definition TV, a digital cookbook, a wireless Internet device or a digital photo frame, the Kitchen Technology Center combines all these technologies into one. Consumers can watch TV or photos, get RSS feeds on the weather or news in their kitchen and access recipes on a 15.6-inch screen. It has 512 MB of internal memory to store up to 3,200 pages of recipes or digital photos. Pre-loaded recipes are included, and additional ones can be added. Interchangeable faceplates in brushed stainless black and white let the customers match their kitchen decor.