The anxiety that comes with leaving one’s property alone has many people installing web-connected cameras for a sense of security. With the Amazon Cloud Cam, the online retail giant is strengthening its position in the smart home market, establishing Alexa as more than just a personal assistant.

Roughly half of Americans have stayed home to wait for a delivery, but with people busier than ever, this requirement is causing them to think twice before ordering online. Walmart is testing a new programme that sees couriers unloading groceries into customers' fridges, even if no one is home.

CCTV surveillance is almost inescapable in modern Britain. Yet despite calls for a curb on cameras, more and more are being installed – and not just by local authorities, but by regular citizens too. Are we feeling more vulnerable in our homes? And does CCTV actually make us feel safer?

E-commerce has made it simple to order almost anything at any time – but physically getting what you’ve bought isn’t always so convenient. How are retailers coping with the growing demand for same-day and one-hour delivery? And is speed the only thing that matters to shoppers?