Providing market intelligence for more than 35 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

Parks Associates: Smart Home Sales to Hit $12.6B in 2027

Parks Associates’ new research report has unveiled a promising outlook for the smart home market, projecting an annual revenue of $12.6 billion in 2027 for core smart home product categories. The Inte...

NFL Football is Winning More Fans Thanks to Widening Broadcast TV and Streaming Reach

By 2027, revenue from sports streaming services overall is expected to reach 22.6 billion, according to data from Parks Associates. Purchasing sports media rights is becoming a leading acquisition...

Pepper Launches Send Help Security Feature Enabling Users to Get Help When They Need It

According to research from Parks Associates, 50% of all security system sales in the past year were DIY solutions and if consumer interests hold, DIY solutions will represent the majority of the marke...

Security Dealers Need More Options to Compete Smarter and Faster

In 2000, only half the U.S. population was accessing info through the internet; today, estimates are 95% to 98% of the 131.2 million U.S. households do. Parks Associates recently reported that one...