Honey, Can you Tweet Me A Soda and Chips?

If it seems like the internet has finally become as import as electricity in every room of your house, that may be because a number of appliances you may seldom think of as internet-bound are surprisingly connected to the outside world. There is even a term for it, called the Internet of Things.

Last year the trend in TV was 3D. This year it may be the dawn of the download era. Cable has had an On Demand feature included in most set-top boxes for a few years and TiVo was once very forward-thinking technology because it bypassed the cable company to download schedules and other on-screen goodies to help guide your viewing choices. This year, TV goes a little further with internet-ready sets and accessories such as wireless BluRay players, Roku media players and AppleTV. The main point of connecting the home entertainment center to the internet is to download content from places like Netflix, Hulu or Amazon Instant Video. But, you often get a few other options with an internet connection, such as the ability to use the picture-in-picture feature to surf in one box while watching TV in the other. Some manufacturers even have special apps that run on their devices so you can access websites without a browser, for example, a YouTube app that lets you watch videos directly on the TV or a Facebook app that lets you chat and check statuses while you watch your favorite show.

Another app-happy device that is making its way into some homes is an internet-connected form of clock radio. In addition to a multitude of docks and apps that let you turn your iPad or other tablet into an alarm clock, the Sony Dash personal internet viewer actually has a snooze button and large clock that displays on its face when not in use. The user can set the device to display a variety of web content, video or just play back music when the alarm goes off.

Surely after the internet has invaded the nightstand, one would think, is there anywhere else in the house that doesn’t have a connection to the ‘net? Thankfully, I’m not going to tell you about some new waterproof shower accessory. But, when it comes to hot spots, you probably don’t think of anything other than the stove in the kitchen. Yes, you need to think again. A few years ago, LG tried to market something called the Smart Fridge and these didn’t sell too well. With the rise of the app, however, the Samsung Internet Connected Refrigerator may be hitting the market at the right time. Now that apps can access web content more easily, this appliance can not only store the veggies, but it will let you look up a recipe when you’re stumped as to what to do with those zucchini and tomatoes. Of course the fridge goes further and also adds on twitter, weather and news so you are never out of the loop while making a snack run or looking for the orange juice.

While all the connectivity at home may leave you wanting to make a run for it, don’t think you will get too far. Thanks to Nike and Apple, even your running shoes are connected. The Nike+ line of shoes includes a special hole in the sole where you can put in a sensor and wirelessly connect the shoes to your iPod or iPhone. The standard app that runs on the device records distance and calories and uploads the stats to the Nike+ website, where you can log on to set goals, join challenges or just track how often and how hard you’ve been exercising. Of course you can upgrade the app to use the iPhone’s built-in GPS to create a real-time map of your walk or jog, visit the website to review stats or play virtual tag with other Nike+ users roaming your neighborhood.