A Siemens employee illustrates the iFresh intelligent refrigerator at the Shanghai Expo.

Can you imagine a home appliance product such as a refrigerator that is smart enough to make phone calls and conduct video conversations? It might sound like something from a science fiction novel but such developments are gradually becoming a reality at the 2010 Shanghai Expo.

Siemens Home Appliances demonstrated its intelligent technology and green solutions for the families of tomorrow at the China, Hamburg House, Germany and "We Are the World" pavilions, at an interactive exhibition.

For example, the iFresh intelligent refrigerator launched at the expo is the epitome of cutting-edge innovation from Siemens.

Using cutting edge principles, the refrigerator has actually been turned into a kitchen food management center that delivers detailed information on the food it contains. It also offers a step-by-step cooking guide and live monitoring of what needs to be done at home when people are occupied in the kitchen.

The refrigerator also comes with a communication platform that enables people to connect with each other while cooking. In the future, people will be able to interact with others by video conferencing, making phone calls and sending short messages, enabling the future kitchen to become a hub for interaction, entertainment and accessibility.

"The concept of a smart kitchen that we are witnessing here at the Shanghai Expo is designed to bring people the most convenience and the best practice in their daily lives through both industrial and design innovations," said Wu Jianke, vice-president of Siemens Home Appliances China.

Siemens also displayed other innovative home appliances at the "We Are the World" pavilion such as an electric oven with a changeable height, an electric wine cabinet and an automatic drawer that keeps food warm. All the products came from what Siemens described as its continued commitment to provide customers with high-tech, greener and smarter products through input in technology innovation.

Statistics show that in comparison with 1990, the average energy consumption of home appliance products from Siemens sold in China has dropped by 40 percent.

To bring more green products and solutions to China as well as to promote the idea of an environmentally friendly life is one important part of the company's corporate social responsibility (CSR) in China, said Roland Gerke, chief executive of Siemens Home Appliances in China.

The company's CSR work in the country will cover other areas such as donations and education, he said, adding that it will focus more on long-term charity programs here.

"We prefer to cooperate with experienced charity organizations in China while doing our CSR work, which can help us to find better programs here," he said.

The company in May opened an artistic center in Beijing, with the aim of encouraging more young artists in their career development.