Before going to work, Ashton, a gourmet cook, decides to order special ingredients for an Angolan feast he will prepare for friends tonight. He uses a kitchen video console to search the local fresh-ingredient retailers to locate the exotic produce he wants and to update his standing order at the local market. While he's in a shopping mood, Ashton decides to look for some new furniture for the home's media center and some art for the walls. He calls his wife, Mariah, who already has left for the day, and sends her images of a few items for the room that catch his fancy. They decide to buy two laser etchings.
Nobody ever seems to sit down to breakfast in Ashton's family.
This morning, Ashton has an old-fashioned breakfast, which he orders from the robot chef in his kitchen. In 45 seconds, his coffee, muffin, fruit and fritters are ready. When Ashton leaves, the home security command module automatically arms all security devices. Ashton returns home. Each security point senses and reads the key card in his wallet.