Apple, Google, Amazon and the Zigbee Alliance have joined forces to develop a smart-home standard that will mean new devices are likely to be compatible with any of their hubs and voice assistants. More about Apple, Google and Amazon unite to make all smart home products talk to each other
Kids can identify plants, flowers and wildlife in their area while adding to a global biodiversity database that helps monitor the planet's health, using the augmented-reality app Seek by iNaturalist and the WWF. More about Seek app builds biodiversity database as users identify plant and animal species
The city of Helsinki has revealed a first-of-its kind website meant to empower citizens, businesses and tourists to make more sustainable choices. More about Helsinki launches Think Sustainably digital service for residents and tourists
American industrial designer Tucker Viemeister has teamed up with software giant Microsoft to build an electronic voting machine that could boost security of paper ballots. More about Tucker Viemeister designs ElectionGuard ballot machine to make voting more secure
Architecture studio Wallgren Arkitekter and Swedish construction company BOX Bygg have created a parametric design tool called Finch, which can generate floor plans adapted to the constraints of a site. More about Wallgren Arkitekter and BOX Bygg create parametric tool that generates adaptive plans
Apple has launched its first dedicated operating system for the iPad, making it easier to multitask, manage files and use Apple Pencil. More about Apple unveils new OS designed just for the iPad
Apple has developed a dark display mode that will be available on the new iPhone and iPad operating systems. More about Apple introduces dark mode for iPhone and iPad
Designers can move easily between drawing in a virtual-reality environment and on their tablet using the latest update to Gravity Sketch. More about Gravity Sketch VR software now lets designers switch between 2D and 3D
Researchers have created a series of 4D-printed plastic objects that fold themselves into predetermined shapes when heated, which they believe could be scaled up to create flat-pack furniture. More about 4D-printing method could allow flat-pack furniture to be assembled with heat alone
An interactive mapping tool provides a scary glimpse of how cities such as New York, Boston and Miami might end up if sea levels continue to rise. More about Surging Seas software shows potential impact of rising sea levels on US cities
Drones that deliver blood with parachutes and a sustainable ocean farming system are among the winners of the INDEX: Award 2017. More about INDEX reveals this year's five best life-improving designs
London startup Gravity Sketch has officially launched its virtual reality sketching software that lets users create and manipulate three-dimensional objects in mid-air. More about Gravity Sketch launches its virtual reality 3D-drawing tool to the public
Researchers at software brand Adobe have developed a prototype tool that allows users to mix colours on screen as if they were working in real paint. More about Adobe Research team proposes more playful way to mix colours digitally
London studio Seymourpowell's virtual-reality tool for automotive design allows people in various locations around the world to work together in real time. More about Seymourpowell demos VR software for collaboratively designing cars
A beta version of a virtual-reality programme that gives designers the option to draw and manipulate 3D objects has launched. More about Gravity Sketch VR software for creative professionals launches beta-testing platform
Graduate shows 2016: Central Saint Martins graduate Julius Breitenstein has created a device that performs the activities an intern would usually do in a design office. More about Julius Breitenstein creates Unpaid Intern device to aid designers
Graduate shows 2016: Royal College of Art graduate Ted Hunt has designed a search engine that allows users to search the web using principles based on the Socratic method. More about Ted Hunt's Socratic Search invites Google users to question their assumptions
New virtual reality tools will allow architects and designers to create buildings and products intuitively in 3D space around them, according to the director of visualisation studio VRtisan (+ movie). More about VR goggles combined with hand-held controllers offers architects "a whole new way of designing"
Apple has teamed up with Ferrari, Volvo and Mercedes-Benz to develop software for cars allowing iPhones to be connected up and controlled via a second screen in the entertainment system. More about Apple unveils software for cars with Ferrari, Volvo and Mercedes-Benz
News: Apple has revealed the design of iOS 7 - the highly anticipated first major user interface redesign since industrial designer Jonathan Ive was put in charge of both hardware and software design across the company. More about Apple unveils iOS 7 software designed by Jonathan Ive