In reality, Apple is jumping on a train that left the station some time ago.

“Fridges that keep an inventory of what’s inside, let you know when food is about to expire, help to write shopping lists and even suggest recipes are par for the course today,”  Dawes explains. “There is even a toothbrush out there that will give you feedback on your brushing method!”

So just how smart are our homes going to become? It starts at the front door with electronic smart locks from companies such as San Francisco-based Goji. The Goji lock uses your mobile phone as a key, allowing you to lock and unlock via its app. With connection to home Wi-fi and Bluetooth access capabilities, it means you can access locks remotely.

If you have guests in town, you can simply send a text message that allows them to open the door – no more hidden keys. And when your arms are full of suitcases or groceries, you can use the keyless access function: once you are within range of your front door it automatically unlocks.

As for security – it manages this too by providing a log of when your door is locked and unlocked and by whom; it will even send a photo of the person via text.

Companies such as Nest Labs – recently bought out by Google – help control temperature remotely via their innovative thermostats. Via the company’s app you can access the system remotely, changing temperatures or simply turning the system on and off.

Entertainment and the living room are an obvious point for connectivity in the home, and innovations continue to abound. “Companies involved in this entertainment area often lead the way,”  Dawes says. “Today’s apps for instance allow you to watch streaming video through all your devices, even when you’re outside of your Wi-fi network.”

For Dawes, though, the most important thing is no wires and thanks to products such as Sonos wireless speakers you can listen to music and stay mobile and connected not only within the home from device to device, but connected to the world beyond.

Via the Sonos app on your smartphone, tablet or computer you can access digital music collections from anywhere on the globe – even international radio stations – and play them on your Sonos speakers, via its dedicated wireless network.

The kitchen and laundry areas are also increasingly becoming a focal point for products with remote access. Samsung has just launched a new line of washers, fridges and TVs that you can control from smartphones and smart watches. The Smart Washer and Dryer, with built-in Wi-fi, are linked to their own app that lets you turn the machines on, choose a cycle, monitor the cycle, alert you to problems and even help you troubleshoot them remotely, or simply turn the machine off.

If you want to be more controlled about what you eat – the LG Smart ThinQ refrigerator is just the ticket. With a built in LCD screen it will tell you exactly what is inside and suggest recipes or help you to write a shopping list via smartphone.

When you finally go to bed, sleep patterns can be monitored by gadgets such as Beddit Sleep Tracker, a sensor you place under your sheet which monitors the hours of sleep, snoring and heart rate and sends the information to your smart phone. It will even suggest ways to help you sleep better.

Or wear a Fitbit wristband, which monitors how many steps you take and the calories you burn during the day.

Day or night, in every room of the home, technology and connectivity are changing the way we live.