SmartThings promises to let you do just that, offering a system that connects everyday physical objects to a cloud-based control center.

ENGADGET: Insert Coin: SmartThings wants to connect your dog, mailbox and kitchen cabinets to the internet

Your sofa (or maybe even your Snuggie) could become a virtual command center, giving you easy control over the dimming of the lights or home music system.

FORBES: Written by Bryan Nelson

ECOtality will utilize the Sprint Command Center, across its nationwide system of residential, commercial, and public charging stations to control Machine-to-Machine (M2M) provisioning, billing, device, service management, and to run the Blink Network.

ENGADGET: ECOtality teams with Sprint to connect Blink EV charging network

Saturday's failure was caused by a software malfunction, while the error earlier in the month, which caused the system to shut down for 20 minutes, was caused by incorrect input by an adjoining air traffic control center.

CNN: Software glitch delays London flights

In a related development, the National Center for Robotic Telemedicine announced a new system that will allow a surgeon equipped with the latest remote control wizardry to perform up to 12 surgeries simultaneously.

FORBES: Doctor Shortage? Let Idled Postal Workers Fill In! (Satire)