In a hyper-connected world, we’re just a Google away from the answer to any question. But as people turn away from impersonal algorithms, photo-based Q&A app Jelly is finding a foothold, crowdsourcing knowledge from the people you know and trust.

As the concept of crowdsourcing evolves, GitHub's open, collaborative workflow is gaining traction outside the world of software development. From lawyers to writers to civil servants, it could revolutionise the way people work together.

Auchan's partnership with social product development company Quirky meet the specific needs of a local market by putting customers at the heart of change, catering to a drastic shift in brand-consumer relationships.

Organising a group activity is stressful, especially when there's money involved. Crowdtilt aims to change this by letting groups collect money from their social networks, hoping to use technology to make people's personal lives less awkward.

Technology lets communities form easily and quickly and as a result is unleashing an empowered public on markets, the media and more. From group buying to 'buycotting', people are putting their heads together and voting with their wallets.

For online retailers, engaging with customers has never been harder, or more important. Enter 'crowdsourcing': the mid-noughties marketing buzz word, which, when innovatively applied, can still prove a powerful relationship-building tool.

Pledge Music is a crowdfunding platform which connects fans directly to musicians, giving them the opportunity to finance projects, such as an album, in exchange for exclusive content.