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Robot doctors, online lawyers and automated architects: the future of the professions?

Tom Meltzer: Advances in technology have long been recognised as a threat to manual labour. Now highly skilled, knowledge-based jobs that were once regarded as safe could be at risk. How will these professions adapt to the digital age?

Crowdfunding development: ‘Kiva’s aim is to make microfinance easy’

Nine years ago Premal Shah co-founded crowdsourced microfinance site Kiva, Natricia Duncan asks him about its progress

Green apps and gadgets: eco shower heads

Can two rival products offer the perfect eco-friendly shower experience or are they just damp squibs, asks Erica Buist

@HiddenCash: Twitter mystery man who leaves money to be found

Rhik Samadder: The enigmatic philanthropist leaves $100 in envelopes in San Francisco as a social experiment in the redistribution of wealth – and has urged those who find the money to pass it on

Internet giants wooed us, but the honeymoon is over

Hugh Muir: First thoughts: The power relationship between you and those who control your data has swung too far in their direction. Take back some control

Source-to-table food project takes Prix Pictet photography prize

Michael Schmidt wins prize that rewards photographers working on environmental and sustainability issues

Independent booksellers bolstered in fight against Amazon

My Independent Bookshop is a new social network and online retail site, with some profits going to independent stores

All talk but no mobile on a trip to US

I took out a contract with Carphone Warehouse but couldn't get any signal in Boston

Insulating your home? Try recycled materials from curtains to carpets

Energy bills may be reduced by two-thirds with a variety of treated waste alternatives to stuff into your walls, floors and lofts, says Joanne O'Connell

Love film: but really hate switching over to Amazon

The company has been taken over but we don't want to change on ethical grounds

Xiaomi to export cheap smartphones to emerging markets

Chinese smartphone maker expands to 10 new countries including India and Brazil as cost of making gadgets continues to drop

Getting really hung up on EE/Orange customer service

I was trying to help my mother with a mobile phone problem but have reached the end of the line

HMRC to sell taxpayers’ financial data

Firms could buy 'anonymised' financial details under scheme described by senior Tory MP as 'borderline insane'

When the French clock off at 6pm, they really mean it

Lucy Mangan: A new labour agreement in France means that employees must ignore their bosses' work emails once they are out of the office and relaxing at home – even on their smartphones