The latest in apartment technology: fridge cams and robotic valets

New York

THE latest in technology for apartments encourages residents not to lift a finger, except maybe to touch their phones.

Developers are certain that buyers want gadgets that could, say, help shuffle boxes of books to storage areas, or allow a peek inside the refrigerator when they're at the grocery store and can't remember if they need milk.

These digital amenities, which are controlled by voice commands and smartphone apps and use robots, are turning up across the New York area in condos, co-ops and rentals, even if users may have to contend with a few glitches. Users may also have to pay a premium.

Yet, to not plug in, developers say, would be to lose out.

"It's not about the future," said Elena Ashkinazy, a manager at Time Equities, the developer listing a two-bedroom co-op on the Upper East Side called the "smart apar…