Science fiction films have been promising it for years - you get home, the house computer welcomes you, pours you a drink, sets the lighting, turns on your favourite music and starts running a bath, all before you've got your coat off.

Well it's no longer science fiction, and it's not horribly expensive to achieve, either.

OK, so we've still got some way to go before the home computer becomes the fully computerised home, with the fridge dictating the shopping list and the garage reminding the car it needs to stop for petrol.

But we're not far off.

And you can make a start on now on getting your home in shape for that future.

A range of computerised controls can be fitted to any home - either built-in or plug-in - which give you remote control over the various appliances scattered round the house.

Not sure what time you'll be home? Wait till you're leaving work, telephone the cooker and switch it on so the meal's ready when you walk in the door. It can be done, and it can be done now.