Research shows that where it comes to building a smart home, we like the idea but actually know very little about it.
As far as smartphones are concerned, it’s probably safe to assume that most US consumers can explain what it is and what it’s capable of doing — indeed, figures from YouGov Profiles show that about 4 in 5 Americans own one.
21% of consumers consider themselves fully aware of smart appliances Share on XBut it’s another story altogether with high-tech home appliances such as smart refrigerators, smart kettles, and smart thermostats. New data reveals that while the majority of US consumers (62%) are aware of these smart appliances — devices that generally include a computer capable of connecting to the internet and can be controlled by phone or tablet — most people admit they don’t know much about them.
Concerns about the new gadgets range from difficulty setting them up to having to remember yet another password Share on XJust over half (52%) of adults aged 18-34 report being aware of the technology yet not terribly knowledgeable about it, compared to 67% of adults aged 35+. At the same time, 21% of consumers consider themselves fully aware of smart appliances and in possession of a great deal of information about them. In this case, more Americans aged 18-34 claim familiarity with, and understanding of, the technology than those aged 35+
36% of Americans are concerned that smart appliances are over-priced Share on XLearn more about Smart Appliances and why they are taking over in this article.
And consumers worry about all sorts of things too, from high prices to hacking vulnerability: Concerns about the new gadgets are varied, and range from difficulty setting them up to having to remember yet another password. The greatest worry, though, involves the cost: 36% of Americans are concerned that smart appliances are over-priced. Meanwhile, 34% express concern about getting hacked, 33% are uneasy about data privacy, and 30% report anxiety about not being able to use the devices if their Internet isn’t working.
Data from BrandIndex indicates that awareness of smart tech manufacturers is on the rise Share on XOverall, however, the data from BrandIndex indicates that awareness of smart tech manufacturers is on the rise. Between January 2017 and today, for example, awareness of the brand Nest increased from 20% to 28%. The public’s general impression of the company has improved, too. This bodes relatively well for an IoT future, but shows that in order for these new gadgets to successfully integrate into our lives, we should take the time to learn a bit more about them.
Awareness of the brand Nest recently increased from 20% to 28% Share on XAlice Bonasio is a VR Consultant and Tech Trends’ Editor in Chief. She also regularly writes for Fast Company, Ars Technica, Quartz, Wired and others. Connect with her on LinkedIn and follow @alicebonasio and @techtrends_tech on Twitter.