‘Top 10’ consumer IoT trends and players to watch

Parks Associates released a whitepaper in advance of CES 2017 that identifies the top 10 trends impacting the markets for consumer technology now and into 2017. Top 10 Consumer IoT Trends in 2017 notes U.S. broadband households currently own an average of more than eight connected computing, entertainment, or mobile devices, plus another two connected home devices such as networked cameras, smart thermostats, or smart lighting. More than one-third of U.S broadband households also own a connected health device, and over 63 million broadband households subscribe to an OTT video service.

“Consumer interaction with the devices and services in their lives – at home, in the car, on the go – will continue to evolve in 2017 to be more personal and targeted,” says Jennifer Kent, director, research quality & product development, Parks Associates. “Approximately 50% of U.S. broadband households plan to buy a smart home device in the next 12-months and they will tie these devices to their mobile platforms, broadband connections, and other devices to create a singular but ever-expanding user experience.”

The top 10 trends identified by the IoT market research firm are the following: 

1. Voice control is vying to become the primary user interface for the smart home and connected lifestyle.
2. The smartphone market plateaus and mobile carriers experiment to retain subscribers, which will threaten fixed broadband services.
3. CE manufacturers focus on new product categories and ecosystem strategies to compensate for stagnation in a mature market.
4. Virtual and augmented reality gain a foothold in niche operations and greater awareness among early adopters, creating opportunities for social VR experiences.
5. The differences between on-demand and live viewing continue to blur as consumers embrace a variety of OTT video services.
6. Consumers increasingly expect connectivity in their cars, but pricing, safety, and data privacy concerns inhibit market growth.
7. To cross the chasm, the smart home industry will continue to develop new use cases for security, peace of mind, and energy management.
8. Insurers are exploring new business opportunities in smart home products and services and will continue to launch trials and new partnerships.
9. Wearables and smart watches are expanding as healthcare tools and will be integrated with other IoT applications.
10. Consumerization of healthcare services and devices drives integration with smart home ecosystems and new business models. 

“The Internet of Things is driving the reinvention of consumer technology and entertainment markets,” said Brett Sappington, Senior Research Director, Parks Associates. “New players and product categories are emerging that challenge traditional players with established business models and distribution channels. Online giants have the scale and technology to take risks in new areas of innovation. In some cases, these innovations are transforming whole sectors of the connected home.”

The Parks Associates whitepaper also includes a list of the “Players to Watch in 2017” for the following categories:

Privacy/IT

Voice Control

Broadband

CE Brands

Virtual Reality

OTT

Connected Cars

Security/Smart Home

Insurance/Smart Home

Smart Watches

Connected Healthcare Devices