Although small businesses aren’t the earliest adopters of technology, they believe video streaming will affect how they market in the coming years, according to September 2015 research. Constant Contact surveyed 893 US small-business professionals and asked them what trends they think will have the greatest effect on how they market their business. Respondents were asked to choose their top three.

The Internet of Things is moving to the forefront of home networking as the variety of devices that can go online rapidly expands. Reflecting this trend, the Open Interconnect Consortium is acquiring the assets of the Universal Plug and Play Forum, an organization formed about 15 years ago to standardize discovery and control of networked devices. 

Laetitia Gazel Anthoine, president of French contactless mobile-services firm Connecthings, is preparing to relocate from Paris to New York. Founded back in 2007, Connecthings aims to transform the public's urban experience by connecting smartphones to city services via NFC tags, QR codes, Wi-Fi and iBeacon management systems. The company's technology now operates in 20 European cities, as well as in Rio de Janeiro and New York. Beacons are small, often battery-powered radio transmitters that send out data using technologies such as Bluetooth Low Energy to the smartphones of nearby users. The Connecthings cloud-based, tag- and beacon-management platform orchestrates the flow …

VanDerWaals is modernizing the phrase "customizable fashion" with a series of connected handbags enabling users to easily switch up the color for on-the-go accessorizing. The new take on wearable technology is aiming to be on the holiday wish list of women who are interested in fashion and technology, whose moods change as often as their outfits. The bags allow users more freedom with their style choices, while also fitting a need mobile phone owners are looking for with its charging ability. 

Dojo-Labs on Thursday introduced Dojo, a device that plugs into the router of a home network and acts as a watchdog to ensure that everything connected to the network is operating on its best behavior. The device brings some of the advanced technologies used to protect corporate networks to the home. It can prevent attacks and detect intrusions by observing how a device behaves on the network. Moreover, the longer it's connected to a network, the smarter it gets about how that network works, the company said.

Marketers in 2016 will turn to creative new applications of technology to gain the attention of consumers, already deluged with brand messages. Traditional means of storytelling and getting consumer engagement are giving way to highly innovative approaches. Marketers will have to be more tech-savvy than ever to grab and keep consumer focus, as explored in a new eMarketer report, “Canada Trends 2016: Marketer Mastery of Tech, and the Consumer Tastes That Make It Necessary.” Data crunching will be an essential marketing skill in 2016, and a major reason is the internet of things (IoT), with the vast amounts of new consumer …

Vivint is highlighting mobile’s growing role in home security by introducing an application that oversees consumers’ smart home devices and systems, offering the ability to control various appliances remotely. The Vivint Sky mobile app was designed to offer consumers peace of mind when they are away from their homes, as well as gather important customer metrics to improve the mobile experience. Users can opt to receive push notifications related to certain instances, such as a visitor ringing the doorbell or the house alarm going off, suggesting that these types of overarching controller apps will become commonplace for consumers with security …

A forgetful mind, Richard Ang left Microsoft in 2013 with the goal to do something with Internet of Things, he just wasn’t sure what. Then he left his garage door open while leaving his house. This happened several times. Open door: “That’s the entry to our house,” Ang said. “It’s really like leaving your front door wide open.” He came up with a way to fix it. Camera on guard: Using the home’s Internet connection, Neposmart’s $199 indoor camera and garage controller continuously watch the garage door. The homeowner can watch the live feed on a phone, laptop or tablet and remotely press …

A special FAA task force is recommending that all drone “pilots” must register their personal information with the US Department of Transportation. “The registration requirement will apply to any UAS less than 55 pounds … and heavier than half a pound … and owners must be at least 13 years old,” CNet reports.

Qantas has announced plans to enter the private health insurance industry, using frequent flyer points and wearables to reward active lifestyles. Partnering with nib, the Qantas Assure program will launch in the first half of 2016, and will give existing Frequent Flyer members the opportunity to take out their private health insurance with the airline. Once enrolled, policy holders will be able to download a wellness app to their smartphone that will sync with "popular forms of wearable technology".