By Chris Cosci

At a recent convention in Orlando, Florida, a new product was revealed that was designed by Pininfarina, a popular designer of Ferrari sports cars. Called "Alpha," it's a two-seater with a sleek design and a colored-light feature called "illumatherapy." And at the end of a long day, it feels great just to sit in it and let its powerful jets relax you.

Did I mention that this product was a spa? One of the newest models from Jacuzzi, Inc., the Alpha has a price tag of $22,000, making it the most expensive Jacuzzi money can buy... without a built-in television. This was one of the more luxurious items on display at this year's International Builders Show. The four-day convention featured approximately 1,600 exhibitors representing over 300 product and service categories, ranging from cabinets and plumbing equipment to street lights and log homes - presumably a very popular housing option in suburban Florida.

In past years, the convention has been a showcase for some of the newest innovations in home and building technology. Unfortunately, while attendees have been wowed by previous years' new technology, public response has not always been as enthusiastic. For example, the 2000 show saw the introduction of GE's talking refrigerator. Despite the impressive technology, the average consumer probably wasn't interested in having conversations with kitchen appliances.

This year's show focused more on updating existing products, hence the lavish design of the Jacuzzi Alpha. One developer, Mike Lear, suggested that "people would rather buy things that feel familiar." I don't know a lot of people who are familiar with $22,000 hot tubs. Maybe I just don't know the right people. Anyway, you can't be too surprised at the price. After all, the people who designed it also design Ferraris. If you're looking for something a little cheaper, talk to the company that designs Kias.

Another new device that premiered at the convention was the "Fabric Freshener" from Whirlpool Corp. The Fabric Freshener is a portable cabinet with a rack inside. Simply hang your clothes on the rack, close the door, and in half an hour, your clothes will be freshened and have what the company calls a "casual press."

There are a few minor drawbacks. For instance, the device only holds two garments at a time. Also, it doesn't remove stains, it just freshens the clothes. So what exactly does the Fabric Freshener do? It releases heat and steam to reduce wrinkles and eliminate odors. In other words, it's like hanging your clothes in the bathroom while you take a hot shower, only it holds less clothing and costs over $200.

Unlike the Alpha and the Fabric Freshener, a few items at the convention were designed for aesthetic rather than functional purposes. One of the more interesting new products was "SentryGlas Expressions" from DuPont Co. The concept for this product stems from the fact that houses now have an average of nineteen windows. The problem is, windows are boring - basically a clear pane of glass. Artistically, windows are about as exciting as a blank sheet of paper.

That's where SentryGlas Expressions comes in. This product takes any photograph, blows it up, and sandwiches it between two plates of glass. So instead of looking at nothing, you can sit in your backyard and stare up at a beautiful snapshot from your last vacation or a loving portrait of the family pet. And what better way could there be to introduce yourself to a new neighborhood than to replace the front window of your house with a large picture of yourself?

SentryGlas Expressions is also available for inside your home. DuPont offers custom-made kitchen cabinets and shower doors. It's the perfect idea for people who enjoy a little creativity. However, if you do choose to go for a shower door, please select a photograph without people in it. Otherwise, that would just be creepy.

It will be interesting to see if there is a high demand for any of these products. If not, the companies will just try again next year. Then the unsold products will just sit in an abandoned warehouse somewhere, listening to the GE refrigerator go on about how nobody cared about him either.