Internet of Things & Wearable Technology Insights

Prepare to hear a lot more about SmartThings. Kickstarter success turned Samsung acquisition, the smart home startup isn't the only DIY approach to home automation and security out there, but it may well end up being one of the best funded. SmartThings' mantra is one of openness, aiming to work with as many third-party components as possible rather than lock users into a closed platform. Admirable, but it could easily add up to confusion; I've been living the SmartThings life for the past six months to see whether it works.

We've come a long way in home automation. What once was solely the preserve of the rich, demanding expensive installation or - if foresight had been lacking during construction - even more expensive retrofitting, has transitioned to a new age of plug & play components, cross-platform connectivity, and the sort of DIY-friendliness that makes setting it up yourself straightforward....

Taiwanese chipmaker MediaTek plans to tap into the growing market for connected home appliances and wearable products with technology designed to help make devices for the so-called “internet of things”.

The company will make its first step into the market for connected home products, with components to support devices from connected fridges and TVs to cameras, smart bulbs, plugs and locks.