Robots, virtual reality, automotive tech are transforming our future

                                                                 Nest

Internet of Things: automated homes

The Internet of Things finally became dinner table conversation (well, sort of) in 2014 thanks to Google Inc. GOOGL, -0.03%  , which helped to mainstream IoT with a $3.2 billion purchase of smart home thermostat maker Nest Labs.

Home automation will continue to attract new attention next year and big players will continue to pour money into smartening up everyday items.
Ross Rubin, principal analyst at tech consulting company Reticle Research, said that while there is still a market for managed whole-home automation from companies such as AT&T Inc. T, +0.06%   and Vivint Solar Inc. VSLR, -0.62%  , individual smart products will likely storm onto the marketplace next year -- think of it like an army of puzzle pieces waiting to be snapped together.
“Smart homes get built piece by piece,” he said. “More smart home products such as connected doorbells, thermostats and lighting are being introduced as smartphone accessories.”
Ailing smartphone maker BlackBerry Ltd. BBRY, -0.13%  last week said it planned to give insight into its future IoT plans at the Consumers Electronics Shows [CES] in Las Vegas the first week of January as it seeks to diversify beyond traditional BlackBerry products.