Providing market intelligence for more than 35 years

In The News

How Many Consumers Actually Have VR Headsets?

Parks Associates released new consumer research this week showing that 2 percent of U.S. broadband households, or 2.3 million households, own a virtual reality headset. The survey of 10,000 U.S. broadband households reportedly reveals that 5 percent of U.S. broadband households plan to buy a VR headset in 2016, an increase from only 1 percent who made a purchase the year prior.

“The big change in VR for 2016 has been the availability or pending availability of VR headsets from companies such as Facebook (Oculus Rift), Google (Google Cardboard) and HTC (Vive). Sony PlayStation VR is expected to be released in October. We expect gamers to be the initial market for VR,” Barbara Kraus, Parks Associates director of research, says. “VR is an immersive experience, and more is better for gamers – more immersion, better sound, better graphics, and more players. The mass market is more likely to adopt mobile VR, which will be less expensive and uses a tool – the smartphone – that the majority of U.S. consumers own.”

From the article "How Many Consumers Actually Have VR Headsets?" by Laura Hamilton.

Previously In The News

The Transformation of Making, Storing, and Keeping Energy Reliable

“Since the 1980s, energy efficiency has been one of the key drivers of home automation, which is what it was called back then,” said Elizabeth Parks, president and CMO at research group Parks Associat...

Streaming in 2025 Isn’t the Bargain It Used to Be

A recent Parks Associates report found that nearly half of U.S. households subscribe to five or more streaming video services, and 23% subscribe to eight or more. The bottom line? Cutting the cord...

‘Severance’ Workplace Thriller Gives Apple a Much-Needed Hit

Apple TV+ has historically been more reliant on creating standout content than its competitors, said Jennifer Kent, vice president of research at market intelligence firm Parks Associates, and it rema...

Telcos have an in when it comes to in-building AI

Beyond connectivity, Parks said telcos also have an opportunity to provide value-added and managed services for commercial and residential buildings alike. Parks Associates, which tracks tech adopt...