There now are some market moves to put some location to good use, as in finding an available place to park a car -- which can be challenging in a big city, or a busy one of any size.

Amazon Alexa stands to retain its lead at 52% of the market this year vs. Google Home at 32%. By 2022, Google Home will lead with 48% of speakers sold vs. Amazon at 37%. Apple is projected to remain at a 12% share, with a much larger overall market by that time.

One of the biggest hurdles in the adoption of IoT devices is awareness. Although many consumers have used or experienced IoT devices, most are not even aware of the Internet of Things, based on a new study conducted by Market Strategies.

Tracking consumers through sensors inside clothing they buy from L.L. Bean now will not be happening. It was reported in "The Wall Street Journal" and numerous other publications around the world last week that Bean would be starting a clothes tracking test with customers later this year. Bean now says that is not going to happen.

Tracking consumers through sensors in clothing may now become a reality, as L.L. Bean plans to sew sensors into clothing and track the clothes after they leave the store through a blockchain. Tracking will be opt-in and will begin later this year, according to details first reported in "The Wall Street Journal."

Consumers can purchase smart home devices for any number of reasons. Someone may want the convenience of controlling their thermostat remotely, someone else may want to be able to ask questions through smart speakers like Amazon Echo or Google Home and others may want to use smart security cameras to see who comes and goes. However, there may be another factor that influences the purchase decision, and that's income.

Artificial intelligence and voice are coming to wearables as the devices get tuned to much more specific uses. Companies are starting to tap AI to give consumers actionable information for fitness wearables, according to a new fitness wearables study. Fitness devices also are expanding, with strong growth in clothing and ear-based fitness wearables projected. The shipment of such devices will grow 60% a year over the next four years, according to the report by Juniper Research. This means specialized wearable devices will account for 25% of the market within four years.

Retailers are finding new ways to use virtual reality. While convincing consumers to use VR headsets for shopping may not exactly be mainstream, one retailer is extending shopper use of VR to employees. The latest example is from Lowe's, which is using virtual reality to train employees in an extension of its Holoroom How To program created by Lowe's Innovation Lab. Last year, Lowe's launched in-store, VR-based skill training clinics in several stores. The aim of the Holoroom How To program was to teach customers basic do-it-yourself skills, such as supplies needed for a project and steps to complete one.

While Amazon's clever Alexa Super Bowl commercial is getting widespread praise, the online giant also had to create some slick technology behind the scenes to stop devices from around the world from giving everyone their local weather forecast. The commercial opens with a woman in her bathroom asking: 'Alexa, what's the weather like today?' Of course, in the commercial, Alexa has a cold and can't totally reply.

Smart home devices are starting to replace some of the things consumers have been doing with their smartphones while at home. As might be expected, devices like Amazon Alexa and Google Home are supplanting smartphones for listening to music, based on a new survey. This may be good news for Apple, since its high-end and pricey smart speaker HomePod will be released next week.