Amazon
The 'Internet of Things' and The Future of Insights
By: Gina Joseph,
Communications Manager, inContext
Solutions
Communications Manager, inContext
Solutions
Renee Brandon's afternoon session on the Internet of Things
gave attendees a moment to think futuristically. What if washing machines could
order you more detergent when you run low? What if in-store beacons could ask
you if you needed help as you walked down the aisle at a grocery store? What if
your health monitor could tell you when you missed a dose of a medication, and
could suggest a different meds to take instead?
gave attendees a moment to think futuristically. What if washing machines could
order you more detergent when you run low? What if in-store beacons could ask
you if you needed help as you walked down the aisle at a grocery store? What if
your health monitor could tell you when you missed a dose of a medication, and
could suggest a different meds to take instead?
Would these things creep you out, or do they sound like
useful technologies?
useful technologies?
These were some of the questions posed when Brandon and her
company, Field Agent, created sample studies to find out how people would use
and respond to connected technologies just like these.
company, Field Agent, created sample studies to find out how people would use
and respond to connected technologies just like these.
The future of
insights
insights
While the above scenarios may sound sci-fi, they are the
kinds of technological capabilities that are coming our way 10 or 15 years down
the road, maybe less. So learning how the Internet of Things will affect
consumers and shoppers, and what types of insights can be gleaned from these
technologies, is imperative to planning how store experiences will work down
the road.
kinds of technological capabilities that are coming our way 10 or 15 years down
the road, maybe less. So learning how the Internet of Things will affect
consumers and shoppers, and what types of insights can be gleaned from these
technologies, is imperative to planning how store experiences will work down
the road.
When Field Agent conducted studies related to these
connected futuristic scenarios, there were certain considerations they wanted
to measure:
connected futuristic scenarios, there were certain considerations they wanted
to measure:
The appeal of the technology (how consumers
viewed the benefits of being connected)
The comfort level associated with having to
answer surveys triggered by the technology (Brandon referred to this as the
'creepiness factor')
And their likelihood to actually respond to a
survey
Field Agent came away with some insightful results. When it
came to a connected home'a house where connected thermostats and light sensors
regulate your homes temperature and energy usage while you're away'sample tests
showed a strong appeal to the usefulness of that type of technology. However,
when respondents were asked whether or not they would be comfortable with
surveys asking about where the homeowners are going on vacation, or for how
long, the correlation was low'only 37% were comfortable with that kind of
personal information being asked.
came to a connected home'a house where connected thermostats and light sensors
regulate your homes temperature and energy usage while you're away'sample tests
showed a strong appeal to the usefulness of that type of technology. However,
when respondents were asked whether or not they would be comfortable with
surveys asking about where the homeowners are going on vacation, or for how
long, the correlation was low'only 37% were comfortable with that kind of
personal information being asked.
In contrast, being able to be connected through health
monitors and receiving notifications about medication refills and doctor
appointment suggestions also had a strong appeal as well as a high comfort
level'the takeaway being that consumers are more likely to answer survey
questions about their own personal health in order to maintain a healthy
lifestyle.
monitors and receiving notifications about medication refills and doctor
appointment suggestions also had a strong appeal as well as a high comfort
level'the takeaway being that consumers are more likely to answer survey
questions about their own personal health in order to maintain a healthy
lifestyle.
This kind of data on the Internet of Things and the insights
they will produce is still in an early phase. But more and more, these kinds of
data sets and technologies will become the norm, and we need to make sure we're
ready for them.
they will produce is still in an early phase. But more and more, these kinds of
data sets and technologies will become the norm, and we need to make sure we're
ready for them.
