Report gauges consumer attitudes toward connected homes

Ericsson Consumer Lab has published its latest report, which examines attitudes toward connected homes where household services are enabled by Internet connectivity.

The study was based on a series of at-home interviews held in Barcelona and Madrid in Spain, and in San Jose, California. In addition, 5,000 responses from Chile, Russia, Sweden, Spain and the U.S. reveal that nearly half of those questioned showed a strong interest in the idea of a truly connected home, with health and wellness being among the areas of greatest interest.

Patrik Hedlund, senior advisor, consumer insights at Ericsson ConsumerLab, said there was a generally positive response to the concept and benefits of a connected home. However, he added, “We found that those who actually have a connected home are not the same as those who would benefit most from one."

“The report shows that families may be missing out," he continued. "Currently, connected home services are largely used by younger single males living alone, while the group that would benefit most are families with young children. Those benefits could include a smarter way to handle household chores and remote home entry for family and friends.”

The research discerns that people today have busier lifestyles than ever before, and are constantly trying to balance keeping to an ever more demanding work schedule with organizing family life.

As noted by the report's authors, “There are dozens of connected services available to help us save time and preserve the sanctity of home life. But often using these services involves a lot of equipment and different devices, all needing a number of cables and apps. The result is added complexity – which is one of the reasons for the slow uptake of the concept of the truly connected home.”

“One barrier at the moment is that some people don’t see the value of these kinds of services," concluded Hedlund. "For connected homes to be more successful, services must be aligned with people’s needs, and really target the groups that have those needs."

View/Download Ericsson's 'Connected Homes' report.