Providing market intelligence for more than 35 years

In The News

AI and smart homes: We may not notice the future

Security experts have always known that potential end users are not always ready for what is available to make their homes more secure. That dynamic often emerges from discomfort with what is new and unknown. Brad Russell, a research analyst at Parks Associates, based in Addison, Texas, describes that discomfort as “friction”—and he suggests that it has been around longer than we realize. Parks Associates is a market research company specializing in emerging consumer technology.

“New technology always comes with friction,” said Russell. From his perspective, however, the security industry has seen “a reduction in friction between technology and usage.”

The gap closes, he said, “If I can just call [my device] rather than use three or four buttons … now you’ve got the ‘wow and delight’ factor. It sounds cliché but it’s true—fun, easy, convenient.”

From the article "AI and smart homes: We may not notice the future" by Kenneth Z. Chutchian.
 

Previously In The News

Charter to Offer Enhanced Smart Home Security with Apple HomeKit

We reported last week that more consumers were adding home security systems. The number of U.S. broadband homes with security systems ticked upward – from 26% to 28% — as of the end of the fourth quar...

Report: Increasing Mobile Video Usage is a Leading Indicator for Cord Cutting

People who use their smartphones to watch more than six hours of video per week are more likely to cut the cord during the next year than those who watch 2.5 hours, according to Parks Associates. The...

Parks Research: Technology Perceived Value Spikes During Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the perceived value of technology in 53% of broadband households, according to a Parks Associates’ survey. The study, “COVID-19: Impact on Consumer Spending and...

Millions of US broadband users falling victim to identity theft

The study was carried out by research specialists Parks Associates, which highlighted how with more of us using IoT devices and everyone having multiple online accounts, there are potentially rich pic...