Majority Of Brits Now Know About Smart Homes

Contrary to prior reports, many Brits are now aware of, and positive towards the idea of having so-called ‘smart homes’, a new study has discovered.

Two thirds (65 percent) of British residents said that they had knew about the term and the technology surrounding it, with many highlighting the benefits that connected homes can bring.

Overall, 91 percent of people surveyed by GfK said that they were aware of the term, a stark contrast to a similar study undertaken two months ago that claimed nearly two thirds of UK consumers hadn’t heard of Smart Homes.

And almost half (47 percent) of the respondents said that the technology will have more impact on their lives than wearable devices (31 percent).

Improving

It seems that consumers are also becoming more aware of the benefits smart home technology can bring, such as savings on heating and power, more effective security and wider entertainment possibilities.

The survey found that benefits relating to security & control features (38 percent) were thought to be the most appealing to consumers, followed by entertainment & connectivity and energy/lighting (both at 36 percent), health (29 percent), and household appliances (28 percent).

“It’s really important to remember that we are talking about people’s homes,” said Ranj Dale, director of the GfK smart home study. “As well as “smart”, any new technology needs to be attractive and comfortable. It has to blend in with our lives and improve them, not make us adapt to them.”

A recent report from analyst house Juniper Research has estimated that consumer will begin spending more on smart home products as the cost of hardware falls and more people become aware of the benefits the technology can bring.

It predicted that consumer spending on smart homes and their associated products is set to skyrocket and reach $100bn (£65bn) within the next five years, as this growth will push the number of connected appliances in smart homes to over 20 million by 2020.

“Making sure people get the smart home benefits they want is really important,” Dale added. “Consumers are definitely aware that a smart appliance could be collecting data about them so brand trust is going to have a crucial part to play in this market. Every supplier needs to be sure to deliver on the benefits of freedom, safety and security and cost-efficiency to turn smart home into a mass market opportunity – and crucially, not encroach on personal privacy in the home.”

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