Providing market intelligence for more than 35 years

In The News

Survey: Consumers Prefer Keeping Wearable Device Data from Insurers

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

36% of CE and Smart Home Product Returns Due to Setup, Installation Problems

CE research data from Parks Associates finds 36% of US broadband households who returned a specified CE or smart home device in the last 12 months cited difficulty in setup, installation, and usage as...

Age Tech: Reshaping Channel Opportunities

Technology is liberating boomers, seniors, families and caretakers by connecting care to the home. During the COVID-19 pandemic, 29% of U.S. seniors ages 65 and older have used video conferencing serv...

Why the Smart Home Network Has Never Been More Vulnerable

Compared to just a few years ago, home networks today have never been so full of connected devices. Parks Associates research from 2020 found that U.S. broadband households now have an average of 12 c...

FALSE ALARM REDUCTION IS MAJOR GOAL FOR SECURITY DEVICE MANUFACTURERS, REPORT SAYS

NEW PARKS ASSOCIATES WHITEPAPER ADDRESSES SECURITY SYSTEM INNOVATIONS ENABLED BY SMART HOME CONNECTIVITY. Parks Associates, an internationally recognized market research and consulting company, has...