What good is an internet-connected toaster if your smart kettle doesn’t know to boil water for your tea? As more gadgets go online, the Open Connectivity Foundation is working towards a universal language for the Internet of Things, making life simpler as tech gets more complicated.

Running a car is hard work – especially if it’s a bit of a banger. Let alone the little inconveniences – where did you park? Are you low on fuel? Xee is a French app that transforms standard cars into smart vehicles, contributing to a connected car market set to be worth $2.2 trillion by 2020.

By the end of 2015, 20 million US households will have a smart home device. But while brands keep releasing tech, many people remain underwhelmed. Philips now hopes to make smart home lighting simple with its wireless dimming kit, but can it spark interest in the modern, connected home?

From lightbulbs to plants to refrigerators – the Internet of Things is growing rapidly, and it’s predicted that by 2020 more than 50 billion ‘things’ will be connected. In Wales, sheep are up next as part of an 18-month research project on connectivity in the countryside.