HIGH-TECH

Fri., Oct. 8, 2004

Arricca Elin Sansone The Tennessean

The range keeps your lasagna refrigerated, then switches to baking mode so dinner’s waiting when you arrive from your commute. The flat-screen TV on your refrigerator door gives you the weather forecast as you set the table. After dinner, the dishwasher determines how dirty your dishes are and adjusts the cycle automatically.

A domestic scene from a sci-fi movie? Hardly.

Welcome to the 21st-century kitchen.

High-tech appliances are not just a marketing ploy. Over the past few years, Americans have invested heavily in their homes. According to the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, the sale of new cooking units in the past few years is up 12 percent, while refrigerators and dishwashers nearly kept pace. Manufacturers are eager to meet growing demand with nifty new features that deliver convenience and efficiency.

Here is the lowdown on what’s high-tech.

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