We recently returned from the 2002 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, which is a widely covered trade show.

Jam-packed exhibits filled three mammoth halls and most attendees set their sights on companies that unveiled all the latest and highly anticipated "electro-techno" wonders in television, audio and computer equipment.

We first went to the areas we know are of special interest to homeowners...appliances!

Imagine combining a refrigerator and an oven. The folks at Duck Creek Energy did. They added space-age mini-refrigeration (developed by NASA) to existing oven and microwave technology, along with remote access and control through personal computers and Web-enabled cell phones. The result...a prototype refrigerator-oven worthy of the Jetsons.

Soon, your oven will keep food a cool 38-degrees all day until you've preprogrammed it to switch over to the "cook" mode. And when you come home, you'll have a hot home-cooked meal ready and waiting. Working late at the office, stuck in traffic, change of plans? No problem. Just change commands, by computer or phone, and it'll be ready when you are. While not yet on the market, it soon will be. For more info on when and where, call (440)-838-5135.

Energy conservation also was featured, with more products carrying and promoting the now familiar "Energy Star" label. To date, consumers have purchased more than 630-million electronic products with that label. Last year, it saved enough electricity to power 10-million homes and reduced air pollution equivalent to that of 10-million cars. Go to www.energystar.gov for more info.

Other nifty gizmos and gadgets included the TeleZapper, which eliminates annoying telemarketer calls. Just plug it into any phone jack and plug in your phone line. Nine of 10 telemarketing calls are dialed by computer. Now when you (or your answering machine) pick up such a call, it detects it in less than a second and "zaps" it with a reverse signal that says your number is disconnected. Your number then is removed from their list, which means they won't be calling again and your number won't be passed on to others. Before you know it (for about 50 bucks), these annoying calls will just about stop. For more info call 1-800-373-6290 or go to www.telezapper.com.

Another neat item was a mini video camera that looks like spotlight bulbs. It's good for added outdoor security. Now when something goes bump in the night, you can see what's out there (whether or not you also have a motion-sensor controlled light fixture).

Just screw the SecureView light bulb camera into any socket. The video signal travels over your home's existing electrical wiring without additional drilling or cables. Plug the small decoder box into a wall socket and connect the video cable to your television set. These bulb cameras are easily relocated and also have built-in infrared to see in the dark. Both outdoor PAR-38 and interior R-30 style bulbs are available. For more info, go to www.seaview.com or call 1-800-POWER-LX.

Perhaps of greatest interest were the model "concept" homes showing how many of today's newest technologies are being brought together to make our lives better, more entertaining and more efficient.

One was the CEDIA house by the Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association. Here we experienced the "e-home" with mini-LCD video monitors. Touch screen controls and keypads for data entry were strategically placed throughout. The result? Vast programming capability that fully automates everything from heating and cooling to the elimination of tedious repetitive tasks like presetting household lighting for various needs (such as cleaning or entertaining) and closing or opening drapes at certain hours (to protect furniture and carpets).

The CEDIA house, chock full of small wall-mounted and-or flip-down screens for television entertainment, visual monitoring and entering control commands for whole-house efficiency and optimum energy savings, soon will be the norm. For more, call 1-(800)-669-5329 or go to www.cedia.org.

Plan ahead, wherever and whenever you can, for all the wonderful stuff that's just around the corner. When remodeling or building, use upgraded wiring (at least CAT-3 or CAT-5 cable) and install conduit (electric metallic tubing) so you can fish in new wires without tearing up walls.

Wiring today? Think tomorrow.