Providing market intelligence for more than 35 years

In The News

IRobot faces a murky future amid rising Roomba competitors

The company is still “number one,” said Elizabeth Parks, president of market research firm Parks Associates in Dallas. But it’s a shaky number one. Parks estimates that iRobot had nearly two-thirds of the robot vacuum market in 2018, but now holds only a 48 percent share. Meanwhile, rival robot makers like SharkNinja, Roborock, Eufy, and Ecovacs have been steadily chipping away.

One possible reason, according to Parks, is concern about data privacy. More advanced versions of the Roomba and other robots use visual sensors to generate detailed maps of the user’s home. This information is shared with the manufacturers to develop more advanced products, but it could also potentially be used to monitor users.

From the article, "IRobot faces a murky future amid rising Roomba competitors" by Hiawatha Bray

Previously In The News

TV Producers May Start Making You Wait For New Shows Online

The changes are especially noticeable at Hulu, which is owned by parents of the very television networks — Fox, ABC and NBC — threatened by changes in the way we watch TV. Hulu has set itself apart by...

Energy At The Summit

“Smart Energy Summit gives context that is critical to understanding the Internet of Things and the convergence of energy management,” says Tom Kerber, Director of Research, Home Controls & Energy at...

How IoT Technology Is Transforming Africa

According to research by Parks Associates, as much as 70% of security dealers currently install or plan to install some type of interactive smart home devices or systems. This technology also assis...

TV Producers May Start Making You Wait For New Shows Online

The changes are especially noticeable at Hulu, which is owned by parents of the very television networks -- Fox, ABC and NBC -- threatened by changes in the way we watch TV. Hulu has set itself apart...