The arrival of the first connected light bulb will allow users to change the colour, mood and brightness of their home from their smartphone. In the pursuit of greater control and personalisation, the home is undergoing a digital redecoration.

Tony Fadell, the man who helped oversee the design of Apple's iPod and iPhone, has designed a new thermostat, as beautiful as any Apple device and just as smart inside; a thermostat that promises to 'learn' the patterns of its users.

As you leave for work, you yell “lock” and “camera on” to keep the house secure, before telling your vacuum to clean the bedroom carpet while you're out. It's not a sci-fi film - the technology is available now. But do we really want our homes to be controlled by technology?

A new wave of technological advancements is making it easier than ever to plug into a techno-utopian automated lifestyle, as people increasingly expect to exchange minimum input for maximum output.