For those living in tiny shoebox apartments in big cities, this robofurniture could transform your life – and make cleaning a whole lot easier too. Scientists have unveiled the capabilities of a handy robotic furniture system that is being installed in a Manhattan housing development. Ori, a venture from the Massachusett Institute of Technology's Media Lab, means if you can't be bothered to leave the sofa to fetch a drink or move your furniture to make space for a party, you don't have to. With just the click on a smartphone app or a voice command, your studio apartment can transform into a bedroom, living room, walk-in wardrobe or study. Ori – named for the Japanese art of'origami' - consists of an L-shaped wooden unit placed on a sliding track that runs along a wall.