// You’re woken by your smart phone alarm to start the day. You grab breakfast from your smart fridge and turn on your smart TV to catch the news before work. When did life become so smart?
Research from Thinque has revealed Australian’s have a love hate relationship with the increasing ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT).
With the rate of electronic services on the rise and embedded into our banking, dating and Government services, it is expected the sector will generate between $4T and $11T by 2025. This is a significant growth from the current $2T in economic value produced by the internet of things.
Thinque found that two in three Australians were able to acknowledge both the pros and cons of the Internet of Things while the remaining one felt either strong hatred or love for it (20% vs 15%).
The majority were pleased with the progression of the entertainment industry through the adoption of IoT with 60% of all participants expressing their content. The developments in banking and shopping were also praised, both at 57%.
However, 32% of people said they were not fans of the digitisation of dating through apps such as Bumble and 25% said they disliked the digitisation of Government services as they seem to be increasingly invasive.
Western Australians showed the most love with one in five saying they love the Internet of Things and felt it was beneficial to them. This contrasted Queensland where one in four Queenslanders stating they hated IOT and did not want it to exist.
“The study also exposed why people have hesitations and a distaste for IoT-enabled devices, with the main reason being that they miss human interaction (45%),” innovations strategist Anders Sörman-Nilsson said.
“From my experience of both being a modern consumer as well as working alongside companies …. this highlights how brands – no matter how traditional or progressive they are – need to foster true connections with customers and create a sense of trust and community to stop them from feeling isolated and to assist them transitioning seamlessly into the increasingly tech-enabled world,” he said.
The Future of IoT
Three predictions:
- You’ll never be stuck in a traffic jam again. Traffic light networks are able to make real-time decisions, lessening waiting times. South Australia has already implemented this technology, reducing traffic congestion, noise, crime and pollution.
- Saving money will be easier than ever. Smart technologies powered by IoT such as lights and appliances that turn off when no one is home will help cut energy costs. Self-adjusting thermostats in heaters and fridges will also ensure output is kept to a minimum.
- Your level of care will increase. Technology that tell an individual their daily steps, weight goals and heart rate is already common but developing technology will provide more insight than ever. Users will be able to be notified immediately on health issues such as dangerously low blood pressure, the risk of a stroke, or illnesses. Furthermore, all hospital beds will be equipped with sensors to notify staff of available beds, thus significantly reducing waiting periods.
Whether you love it or hate it, IoT is the new normal and we all have the capacity to watch – and maybe even dictate – where it takes us next.
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More information on this research and Anders Sörman-Nilsson.
MAIN IMAGE: Anders Sörman-Nilsson – Provided.
