Think about the perfect dinner, appliances that call for service, a shopping list that completes itself and, voila!, preempted television commercials.
You've heard it all, you say?
This time it's for real.
The much delayed promise of the Jetsons' home is about to become a reality -- honest -- according to "Trendspotting," (Penguin/Putnam, $14.95) a new literary peek into the near future, written by Richard Laermer the New York City journalist turned marketing mouth piece who founded RLM Public Relations.
Among the trends about to descend upon us are many that will impact how we live at home, says Laermer, who has worked to perfect the trend of trend spotting.
"Smart homes are wired or connected through a home computer running software that can control and automate every aspect of your home, security, lighting, appliances, heating and cooling systems, blinds, drapes, audio and video systems," said Laermer.
To compile his book of trends, Laermer interviewed trend experts from a variety of disciplines to come up with nine chapters of trends, including many likely to affect your life at home.
While replicating food from thin air and playing 3-D tag in a holodeck room aren't on the list --yet -- more down to earth change is afoot -- for better or for worse.
"Our homes will be smarter than we are. In the future, your windows will do more than just keep out the elements of weather. They will automatically adjust to the changing sunlight to keep your home bright, dark, warm or cool," Laermer said.
"This means you should wait before buying any TV appliances. They will be so much better and cheaper in the next year or so," Laermer says.
"There will be the flattest flat screen monitors for both work and play on the market," Laermer said.
"We are nearing the end of public entertainment as we know it. Advanced home theater systems will soon become the norm. Home movie theaters will no longer be for just the rich and the privileged. Bye-bye movie theaters. We will rely on Internet experiences over personal ones as the Internet finishes off what television started, isolating us from the world," said Laermer.