Family technology has arrived -- at least in Europe.

I'm at the IFA show in Berlin where the big story is "white goods."  For the first time in its 84-year history,  the show is mixing home appliances along with consumer electronics. The issue is so big here that it was trumpeted on Thursday night by none other than German Chancellor Angela Merkel who addressed the show's opening night gala dinner.

As a tech columnist I don't usually review refrigerators, washing machines, coffee makers and electric irons -- but I have to admit I was impressed by some of the cool-looking machines I saw on the show floor.

The fact that many of these devices have chips, timers and other electronic components is hardly news. Most of the appliances sold in America have had electronics in them for years. What is interesting here is how electronics are being used to cut down on energy consumption.

Many of the refrigerators at the Bosch exhibit, for example, had displays that report how much electricity they are using. Bosch also emphasized its water-saving washing machines and energy-stingy dryers. It announced a new washing machine that uses 10 liters (2.6 gallons) of water! Standard U.S. full size washers use typically use about 40 gallons per load and even  "Energy Star" washers use between 18 and 25 gallons, says the U.S. Department of Energy. The department has a web page with tips on how to save energy while doing laundry.

I didn't see any Internet connected appliances -- I keep waiting for that coffee machine that will send me a text message when my beverage is ready -- but Vestel, a Turkish company, showed a dishwasher and refrigerator with built-in TV screens. The dishwasher (which isn't yet on the market)  is a bit wacky because, unless you're really short, you'd have to kneel down to view it.

Personally I can do without a TV on my refrigerator. We do have a small TV in our kitchen but I'm perfectly happy to perch it on the counter.

Another wacky product is a 3D TV from LG. The good news is that you don't have to wear those goofy 3D glasses -- and the other good news is that objects really do jump off the screen. The bad news is that the image is really blurry, making me wonder why anyone in their right mind would pay about $7,500 for it. To be fair, in just the right position the image is clearer -- but if you move your eyes or head just an inch or two it goes back out of focus.

Elsewhere, Fraunhofer Institute showed a 3D computer display aimed at gamers  It uses electronic eye-tracking that helps keep you in a position where the image is in focus. While still a little bit blurry, it was clearer than the monitor from LG.

My favorite device was a home clothes pressing system from Monster, a brand of the Italian firm Euroflex SRL.  (It is unrelated to better known Monster Cable.)  You put your coat, slacks or shift on what looks like an ironing board and steam comes from below to remove the wrinkles. At $800 Euros (about $1,200) it also has a monster price. At that price, I'll just live with wrinkles.

IFA, billed as one of the world's largest consumer electronics show, opened on Friday and goes through September 3rd.