Dear house: When I wake up, please turn on the lights, crank up the heat, play some tunes and brew my coffee.

Who hasn't dreamt of a house that can take orders? Austin Powers's bed rotates and plays bossa nova at his command. Wallace and Gromit, the animated Englishman and his dog, live in a house that can wake you, drop you into pants and spread jam on your toast—though it never quite works as designed.

While...