This refrigerator door can open and close on its own

This refrigerator can be opened and closed hands-free. — Courtesy of Liebherr/AFP Relaxnews

What if, in the future, we could use our household appliances hands-free, controlling them simply by voice or remotely via a smartphone? That's not such a far-fetched and futuristic idea, since a first refrigerator with this kind of technology is hitting the market.

Called AutoDoor, this technology from the Liebherr group should allow many of the brand’s appliances to open and close fully automatically. This can be particularly practical when you have your hands full, and it also avoids dirtying the handle or the front of the device with fingerprints.