With half a billion wearable devices shipping in the next few years and going straight onto wrists, shoes, glasses and lapels, soon interacting with smart cities will seem as 'normal' as checking Facebook.

Brands want people to interact with their products and services - because interaction can take on value as an alternative to traditional currencies - and they're constantly searching for the best exchange rate. But what's in it for consumers?

A new campaign from Nike converts the distances participants run into tangible rewards. By introducing an element of gaming, the brand is encouraging greater loyalty and creating an Alternative Currency that revolves around sweat, not money.

A new wave of technological advancements is making it easier than ever to plug into a techno-utopian automated lifestyle, as people increasingly expect to exchange minimum input for maximum output.