With McDonald's challenged by fast food chains like Chipotle and Subway – which emphasise fresher ingredients and let people choose what goes into their products – the burger chain is expanding the "create your own taste" option. But can it boost sliding sales?

From paying at self-checkouts to ordering with apps, modern shoppers are handling more and more elements of the shopping journey themselves. But is streamlining the shopping experience removing the personal element of retail?

Eating out is no longer just about food and drink. Innovations from apps that trace ingredients to fast-track ordering are shaping service expectations. But can too much seem gimmicky? And should restaurants concentrate on mastering quality ingredients rather than the latest tech?

Four in five Americans check their phones within 15 minutes of waking, and 79% keep that device on or near them for 22 hours each day. As author and entrepreneur Nir Eyal points out, these devices have the human race hooked - but why? We sat down with him to find out more.