Baby boomers are the fastest adopters of smart home tech: poll

Have you ever received a smart home device as a gift? If yes, then you are in good company.

New research shows that more than half of smart home consumers were gifted their first device and their collection grows from there.

– Advertisement –

A December survey of 2,000 US adults with smart devices in their homes — devices that are connected to the Internet and can be used to control other things throughout the home or be used as digital assistants — It was found that 54% gifted or bought their first smart devices.

And for those who bought their first device, the average cost of entry was as low as $110. About 19% said they were able to get their first device for less than $75.

advertisement

The most popular “first” devices that people flocked to were either cameras (18%) or streaming devices (16%). In fact, 45% of people with at least one smart home device said they own a smart camera.

– Advertisement –

Other popular devices appearing in the home include speakers (40%), streaming devices (40%), doorbells (27%), and lights (24%).

commissioned by google nest And conducted by OnePoll, the study also explored the relationship Americans share with their smart home devices.

Half were found to interact with their devices at least once every day, and 85% said they were experts within a week of setting up their devices.

Baby boomers were found to be the fastest adopters of smart home tech – 66% said they started using their smart home devices daily “straight away”.

Slowest adopters: Gen Z, where a surprising 46% said it took them at least four days to get used to their devices.

However, Gen Z was the least likely to be opposed to owning a smart home device (63%), while Millennials had the most initial opposition (25%).

“When people think of smart homes, many people think that these devices are really for the tech homeowner,” Karen Yao, director of product at Google Nest, said in a statement.

“In fact, with new smart home protocols like Matter, smart homes are more customizable and require less analysis to determine the best starting place or ecosystem for you. Together, you can create a home that’s more integrated and supportive than ever.

The poll found that 37% claimed a sense of confidence in their smart home expertise, and 41% agreed that a “smart” home can only be achieved by knowing how to automate their home. be used.

More than half (51%) of those surveyed said they have tried their hand at setting up automation and routines in their homes, where their devices can handle basic tasks – like turning the lights on or off or playing music – Without the need for human input.

The most popular routines respondents were proud of were bedtime routines (22%), morning routines (17%), and routines related to safety (15%).

Yet there were many who felt hesitant to use their equipment. More than a third (34%) said they would be more likely to automate their homes if they understood the benefits of home automation in the first place.

Another 27% said they would be more willing to use their devices if they could learn more about how to best use them.

“Starting is always the hardest step. There are a lot of decisions, like what to buy and how to set it up,” Yao explained.

“I started by asking friends and family members for their recommendations on tools and helpful automations/routines. These tools can provide so many creative and practical uses. As a working mom, I can tell you they’re a lifesaver when you need hands-free help in your home.”

Top 7 Smart Home “Needs” for Devices

• It should be easy to set up and use – 40%
• I need it to help keep my family and home safe — 40%
• It needs to be private and secure – 39%
• It needs to last for years – 37%
• It needs to work with other devices in my home — 36%
• It needs to do multiple things – 33%
• I need to be alerted to specific things – 32%