Nearly a quarter of U.S. households now own a smart speaker, according to Kantar's Q2 TNS Request survey, which tracks household use and behaviors around voice, internet and video services based on more than 100,000 annual responses.

With the Macy's VR furniture experience, created by Macy's and Marxent, shoppers can covert a space to a three-dimensional floor plan.

The Internet of Things involves many types of new connections and now car vending machines are being added to the mix. The fourteenth car vending machine in the U.S. just opened in the Fishtown neighborhood of Philadelphia.

In yet another indication that artificial intelligence is a big deal today and going forward, MIT is launching a new initiative with serious funding behind it. Backed by a $350 million gift from Blackstone CEO and founder Stephen Schwarzman, MIT is making a $1 billion commitment to address the challenges and opportunities relating to computing and the rise of artificial intelligence.

Mixed reality for interior design and room planning is making a major leap forward. Online furniture retailer Wayfair has launched Wayfair Spaces, an interior space planning app so consumers can visualize products in their homes at scale through mixed reality.

More stores, including convenience outlets Ricker's, are implementing self-checkout shopping similar to the cashierless action at Amazon Go shops.

Battery life is the leading feature and heart rate monitor is last, according to Parks Associates. Other important features include whether it is simple to operate, water resistance, activity tracking capabilities, and GPS.

Car controls would be coordinated with the mobile device via wireless network, such as Bluetooth or WiFi in the car.

Ford is pushing the market to create a common way for future self-driving vehicles to communicate with pedestrians -- proposing a universal communications interface for cars that people can understand.

The Internet of Things is so vast and encompassing that companies involved can't afford to go it alone. As a result, there's a lot of teaming going on and it involves major brands.