Providing Market Intelligence for 40 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

Report: Consumers Increasingly Value Video Security Devices

According to the latest data from Parks Associates, 19% of US internet households have professionally monitored security systems, while 7% pay for non-professional services like alerts an video storag...

Corporate Real Estate AI Pilots Surge, ROI Still Elusive: Report

“Companies are looking for the best use cases for GenAI, and there is a lot of experimentation at play right now,” Kristen Hanich, director of research at Parks Associates, a market research and consu...

The Smart Money: Professional Installation Gains Ground

Parks Associates projects that the U.S. smart home device market will generate $15 billion in annual sales revenue by 2029. While DIY remains the entry point for many households, Parks Associates’...

Multifamily resident access to gigabit or faster download speeds is rising

A recent Parks Associates and Cox Communities study found that more multifamily residents with home internet can get access to gigabit download speeds. In a new white paper, A Guide to Connecti...