Imagine if life as we knew it occasionally offered us new and improved upgrades, without us even asking for them. If during the course of the day, you got the chance to download Existence 2.4, which this time around came with a shorter working week, and additional fun on Fridays.

What perfection might it be if you could access your friends as easily as you can grab album covers in iTunes? Through a handy "Sleeve-Slide" system, Helen could appear in front of you at will, just as Arnold is magically whisked away. And you could have your three conversation buddies, Raj, Mei and Annie, conveniently placed next to each other - so you can hear from them simultaneously.

And when you're feeling crazy, just select "Random Play".

Think of the possibilities for work. When you are sick of your client, you could just "Drag and Drop" them into some anonymous folder, far far away. Or when your boss has crossed the line on time too many. Sorry man - "Option-Delete".

The possibilities for dating are infinite. When your partner does something you like - pays for the bill, pretends to be Garfield - you can rate that behaviour with five stars. So that later, you can set your next date to automatically include more of that behaviour. And way less talking about Mum.

Folders would be good for days of the week. On Monday, you could choose the Don't Talk To Me Or I'll Kill You folder, and people would behave appropriately. By Friday though, the Everything Is Sunshine folder would mean your office could instantly tranform at 6pm into a Rio Mardi Gras parade, with you in the leading car.

And travel? How good would it be to whisk yourself from a bar in Havana straight back to a boardroom meeting in two clicks of a mouse - and not a hint of carbon in the air.

Such ideas of course belongs in dreams and online columns. Life, it is sometimes painfully clear, was not designed for living quite as well as our favourite software has been.

But hey, if it were – iTunes would not be nearly as fun.