From 'tri-washers' to AI-driven robots: the smart home we want

It was announced and punctually it arrived: the avalanche of smart and connected appliance announcements "hit" IFA and filled the halls of the Messe Berlin as perhaps never before. Colours, shapes, sounds, interfaces: the installations dedicated to the smart home took the lion's share and for appliance manufacturers (Asian vendors in the lead) the challenge is renewed to get ahead of everyone in the race for the home that is controlled by voice and learns from our habits. Here is a selection of products we have seen on review that represent a new leap into the future.