Invisible appliances on display

Well, not completely invisible -- that'd be downright dangerous. The stylish dryer pictured above was just one of the appliances proudly displaying its innards at the National Electronics' Innovation Station exhibit in Japan recently, apparently making use of "natural dry air" to conserve energy (we're hoping that's not a roundabout way of saying it's a glorified plastic box). Also not shy to show off its contents was a transparent fridge (pictured after the break), which looks even more suspiciously non-functional but does provide plenty of space for your various beverages. No word on price or availability, naturally, although given the chances that they'll ever find their way over here, we wouldn't suggest that you hold off on any refrigerator / dryer purchases you've been planning.

[Via Engadget Chinese]

[thepixelpuncher @ Nov 25th 2006 6:01AM]

Wonder Woman already has these.

[cuban321 @ Nov 25th 2006 6:39AM]

These aren't real. They are just mock ups to demonstrate design. They are not functional.

[Jonathan @ Nov 25th 2006 7:30AM]

What Cuban said..

These are non-functional mock-ups to display the capacities and technologies of the devices. There really shouldn't be an article on this.

[Shari @ Nov 25th 2006 7:32AM]

I'm glad someone else has pointed out that these are design models to show the capacity of the refrigerator and the mechanisms of the other items.

These are not consumer models. The actual models in white are pictured next to the transparent mock-ups. If you look at the signs to the left of them, you can clearly see them.

It's amazing that I've seen this incorrect posting 3 times on 3 different blogs now.

[Chris @ Nov 25th 2006 3:08PM]

A good way to avoid this is to quit being so uppity and reading more than 1 blog a day, you hipster. Then, once you're so smarmy, you'll only see it posted in one blog --the blog that you read.

[asher @ Nov 25th 2006 7:45AM]

@ Author
If "Invisible appliances on display" were true, how would you know? I think transparent is a bit more accurate.

[Bill @ Nov 25th 2006 8:23AM]

Still, a great concept for those of us who want to know at a glance how far the spinach has progressed beyond its "best before" date.

[kev @ Nov 25th 2006 9:54AM]

You would think you'd contact your friends over at Engadget Japanese to read the sign for you. For example, the fridge just says "Low waist line". Nothing about the invisible part. You think National (Panasonic) would be making such an odd product anyway?

[justelite @ Nov 25th 2006 1:25PM]

Of course isn't real. take a look here:

http://blog.pcnews.ro/2006/11/24/transparent-home-appliance/

[Danny @ Nov 25th 2006 1:43PM]

This is a potential housekeeping nightmare. Do you really want to be able to see what crawled underneath and died behind the fridge?

Being well aware of the incredible biodiversity thriving in my kitchen, I for one prefer my appliances as un-transparent as possible.

[Pal @ Nov 25th 2006 7:23PM]

I actually saw those this summer when I visited the very same place! And yes, as others have confirmed, they're for demonstration purposes, are not functional and most definitely not for sale :)