Unveiled this past Sunday at the Digital experience event during the annual Consumer Electronics (CES) show in Las Vegas, Whirlpools GD5VVAXT fridge gives owners the ability to hang a laptop, a digital photo frame, or an Ipod dock in modules located on the left door panel, attaching to a power outlet that allows them to be used interchangeably.



If this product announcement sounds like old news to you, there is a reason for that. Five years ago, LG Appliances released a fridge/PC combination that did not sell well at all. Whirlpool, however, remains optimistic about their version, citing its application versatility and functionality as the highest selling points of the refrigerator, which also boasts a large capacity storage freezer, stainless steel interior and exterior, and an in door ice maker.

According to the company, 30% of laptop, photo frame, and digital music player devices are already stored and used in the kitchen, and placing them on the fridge saves users time and space. As busy professionals brew their morning coffee and eat their morning cereal, Whirlpool product development execs are hoping that these same people will also be checking their emails, stocks, and schedules as well.

Among the products that can be used with the new fridge are the convertible tablet computers, The Clio Vu, which is equipped with Wi-Fi and can be removed and used as a traditional notebook, or as a schedule tracker for the household. In addition, it can also serve as a web portal and a movie viewing screen. The Brandmotion Ipod speaker system is also designed to attach to the refrigerator, and functions as a docking station with four large buttons for easy cleanup and use.

Also unveiled at the CES, the Yoggie Pico, a USB key-sized Personal Security Computer with 13 security applications, including blocking Internet threats and boosting overall PC performance, and the Sanyo Xacti E1, Model:VPC E1, the worlds first waterproof camcorder.

Following on the success of the IRobot Roomba vacuum, the company has released the IRobot Looj, designed to clean gutters safely and effectively. Personal robot usage is expected to increase exponentially in the coming years, as well as the use of technologically based products in general as increasing innovations make these types of products more readily available to the general public.