From the ironing closet to the washing machine that buys detergent: a walk through the smart home | Technology

50.7% of Spaniards say they do not have time to do household chores due to fatigue after hours of work, according to an INE study that LG collects. In this context, technology brands try to find the best solutions to prevent users from spending their free time cleaning, ironing or shopping. The IFA, Europe's leading consumer electronics fair, is a true showcase for the most modern appliances in the market.

From September 6 to 11, refrigerators, ovens, air conditioners, washing machines or smart cabinets are exhibited at this event in Berlin. The connected home, which allows a reduction in energy consumption, is already a reality. More and more companies are creating devices that can be controlled by voice through the use of assistants such as Alexa or Google Assistant or through different apps. This is the case of LG, which allows you to interact with appliances through voice commands using the ThinQ mobile application, and Bosch, which allows you to manage multiple appliances with the app Home Connect

"Ok Google, clean the house," a hostess from the fair tells a smart speaker on a trip to the IFA to which this newspaper has been invited by LG. Immediately afterwards, a robot vacuum cleaner prepares to clean a simulated room in the stand of the Korean brand. In the same way, he asks the assistant to turn on a ceiling fan or to check the temperature of the wine.

The kitchen is one of the places where smart appliances have more utilities. There are refrigerators capable of detecting food and suggesting recipes and of opening automatically by placing the foot under a sensor located in its lower left corner or by asking the assistant for voice. Some Bosch refrigerators also have a built-in camera capable of detecting different foods with artificial intelligence and offering storage suggestions. This can be especially useful for reducing food waste. And other companies like LG are committed to allowing the user to see what is inside the fridge without opening it. While some refrigerators incorporate a camera, others have a transparent cover that allows you to see the inside of it when it is struck twice with one hand.

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The furnaces exhibited at the fair can range from calculating the baking time alone to combining the traditional oven function with steam cooking in different compartments. In this way, it is possible to cook two different dishes at once – this is the case of Samsung's Dual Cook steam oven. Meanwhile, LG washing machines can recognize the fabric of the clothes to autonomously choose the most efficient washing program. These appliances are also able to issue a warning when the detergent is going to run out or even place the order themselves.

There are not only smart devices for the kitchen. In front of the traditional closets that usually exist in the bedrooms, different brands exhibit new wardrobes that can dry and iron several shirts by just hanging them with hangers inside. Samsung has presented at the fair a closet that irons and refreshes the clothing automatically called Air Dresser.

Some cabinets are accompanied by smart mirrors such as the LG ThinQ Fit, which is capable of measuring a user's body and creating a realistic avatar to see how different clothes would fit. In a live demonstration conducted by Dr. I.P. Park, president and CTO of LG, a user has tried different garments to his avatar and has even made online purchase from the screen.

For the living room, there are also smart TVs for all tastes. The LG Signature OLED TV R, presented last January at CES, tries to prevent the TV from occupying space in the living room when it is not used and, therefore, can be rolled up when users do not want to see it. Instead, others show images of works of art when they are not used or camouflaged with the wall in an attempt to become invisible.

Netatmo, one of the leading companies in home automation and smart devices, has presented at the IFA an intelligent alarm system consisting of a camera and sensors in doors and windows. The camera has facial recognition and sends an alert to its owner every time an unknown person tries to enter the home while the sensors detect when a door or window opens unexpectedly or is being forced.

In addition to monitoring the house from anywhere, this company also allows users to control the heating remotely, measure the air quality in the home or control temperature data outside and inside a home. A user could for example receive a warning when it is necessary to ventilate the house to reduce pollution levels.

Residents can also control their home lights and thus reduce energy consumption. Philips has introduced new smart bulbs from the Philips Hue family. They are Edison type and mimic the look of vintage light bulbs. In addition, it has launched a smart plug that allows you to remotely activate or deactivate the current that charges to any terminal connected to it, and the Hue Smart Button. This last device is a button that can be placed on any surface and serves to turn on or off compatible bulbs and regulate their color.