National Study Shows Consumers Need to Control Smart Technology

Apparently, being in control is important when deciding which connected or smart technology to adopt, according to a new Finn FuturesTM survey conducted by Finn Partners’ global technology practice. This was a national poll looking at consumer sentiment towards smart devices, smart homes, and self-driving cars.

Sabrina Horn, managing partner, US technology practice, Finn Partners said “Emotion plays an important role when it comes to consumers’ willingness to adopt connected technology. People want to feel in control of their lives and of their loved ones’ well-being, so it isn’t surprising that we always see peace-of-mind as the top motivator in smart home adoption.”

According to the press release, while we may read a lot about autonomous vehicles, consumers have yet come to terms with the concept. Just 15% of Americans were extremely excited about the prospect of autonomous vehicles although those under the age of 45 were more likely to give a more positive response. While we may not be ready for the concept of automated driving, it’s a very different story when it comes to household chores. Some 3 out of ten thought having robots to handle household activities was the second most desirable smart home feature after home security.

The survey also looked at people’s concerns and found that connected technology is definitely not one size fits all and it’s not even age-dependent. Some 59% of Americans were likely to cite cost as being the biggest barrier to smart home technology compared to just 20% who cited privacy concerns. Interestingly, younger Americans were more likely to be concerned about privacy compared to those over the age of 45. The main concern about self-driving cars is the loss of feeling in control as well as concerns about vulnerability to hacking and the expense.

When it comes to health, people are more interested in giving doctors direct online access to health information with 70% interested in allowing doctors to monitor their health remotely. This trend increases amongst younger Americans.
Over the past few years, understanding of smart technology has increased significantly and the survey showed that 86% of consumers are confident that they know what it means if someone has a smart home.