Register

I agree with the Privacy Policy

In The News

Survey: Consumers Prefer Keeping Wearable Device Data from Insurers

August 17, 2015

remote health monitoring

connected health devices

fitness tracker

According to research firm Parks Associates, the majority of those surveyed indicated that they are not willing to share data collected from wearable devices, even if it meant receiving a discount on their health insurance premiums. In spite of this reluctance, these same consumers were willing to share data for the purpose of troubleshooting the devices themselves.

The results of the survey varied significantly by device. Forty-two percent of digital pedometer owners were willing to share data in order to receive a health insurance discount; for smartwatch owners the total was 35 percent; and for sleep-quality monitor owners it was 26 percent. Nevertheless, a solid majority of device owners was not willing to share data.

Consumers are justified in their concerns about health data privacy. The Los Angeles Times told in July of a security breach in October 2014 where hackers compromised UCLA Health Systems’ computer network, putting 4.5 million patients’ sensitive data at risk. What was troubling about the incident was that it took nearly seven months from the time suspicious activity was discovered in October, to May 5, which is when investigators determined the system was hacked. Additionally troubling was that the data was not even encrypted.

From the article "Survey: Consumers Prefer Keeping Wearable Device Data from Insurers" by Christopher Mohr.

Previously In The News

Comcast’s Peacock is now streaming on Roku devices after months of negotiations

Although the Peacock app was on Apple, Android, and Microsoft devices at launch, it wasn’t carried by Roku, which controlled 39% of the streaming device market as of last year, according to Parks Asso...

Nearly half of iPhone users own a connected health device

Forty-nine percent of iPhone owners and 34 percent of Android owners who are the head of a U.S. broadband household own at least one connected health product, according to new research from Parks Asso...

Is Now the Time to Get a TV Antenna?

Cord cutters are buying antennas to save money by cutting their monthly pay-TV services—and they’re doing it in large numbers. New consumer research from Parks Associates shows that the percentage of...

What’s Old Is New Again

While sales of vinyl records have been rising for a while now (Consumers like the sound quality and like the feel of vinyl records.), 2016 was a banner year. Sales hit a 28-year high -- led by David B...

‹
1
2
...
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
...
733
734
›