Three quarters of Brits can't see how wearable technology will make their lives easier, whereas over half think connected home technology will have a positive impact on their day-to-day lives.
Despite the widespread appeal of connected home technology, less than a third (30%) realise that it is already widely available New research from Hive, by British Gas has revealed that – despite recent hype – many Brits are yet to be convinced of the benefits of wearable technologies.
The nationwide survey of over 2,000 UK adults explored people's perceptions towards a selection of innovative technologies – including wearables such as Google Glass and Apple Watch, connected home devices, artificial intelligence, driverless cars and 3D printers – and found that wearable technology is currently at the bottom of people's wish-lists. Just a quarter (25%) think wearable technology has the potential to make their lives easier; in fact, one in ten (9%) actually think that wearable technology will make their lives more difficult.
On the other hand, connected home devices – which connect wirelessly via the internet and which allow users to control aspects of their homes, such as heating and lighting – ranked the highest on people's wish-lists. Over half of respondents (56%) stated they believe the technology will make their day-to-day lives easier. Technology with artificial intelligence such as personal assistant applications (43%) and driverless cars (31%) took second and third place on the wish-list, respectively.
In terms of the features of connected home devices which people find most appealing, three in five (61%) reported that the potential to help them save money is a major draw. Over half (59%) also see the potential for innovations to support vulnerable people (for instance, allowing users to remotely check-in on elderly friends or family, to ensure they are safe and warm).
