In an increasingly connected world, people are looking to the internet and technology to solve everyday problems. Tile combines the seamless simplicity of the internet of things with the benefits of a global community to help find lost items.

By 2020 there will be 50 billion objects connected to the internet. SmartThings enables true human-computer interaction by ensuring that everything we own – electronic and otherwise – is part of the conversation.

Two MIT graduates have created TWINE, a system that sends a tweet when your laundry's done, an email when your basement floods, or a text message when you leave the garage door open. And it could prove to be incredibly handy.

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.