We saw a number of Electric Imp demos and appliance ideas at the booth including a simple hand-held "detonator" toggle switch with LED, seven-segment counter, water level sensor, servo-controlled gauge, RGB light, power socket, Christmas light, power monitor, toy washing machine, 16x16 LED display and receipt printer (the latter two being combined to show the avatars and tweets of anyone mentioning the Electric Imp) -- all Internet aware.

ENGADGET: Hands-on with the Electric Imp at Maker Faire (video)

This segment of the market is a major beneficiary of the switch from unconventional to conventional vehicles discussed in our post on the subject.

FORBES: China's Auto Market Keeps Booming

The emphasis for Treehouse is on the private label business, a segment that thrives during tough economic times as customers become more inclined to switch from national brands to store brands.

FORBES: Magazine Article