"home safety" articles

State Farm’s $1.2 billion investment in ADT for 15% stake in the company signals a turning point in the slow and somewhat tepid attention insurers have paid to the smart security space. Smart security products and systems stand to save insurers billions of dollars through proactive monitoring, detection, and deterrence for burglary, home, and fire damage. Parks Associates’ July 2022 research finds: 23% of US internet households have experienced water damage...

Security system use is particularly common in multi-dwelling properties. Parks Associates research shows that 41% of multi-dwelling unit (MDU) property managers have a security/access system for common property areas and parking garages.  From the article, "The Smart Money: Demand for Security at an All-Time High . " 

The momentum of insurance companies as a channel for the purchase or distribution of smart products is increasing. State Farms enormous investment in ADT is another example of ADT diversifying its strategy to capture all angles possible. This new partnership with State Farm, coupled with Google’s investment in ADT, is a huge signal that major players are recognizing the need for integration across ecosystems in the home. According to Parks Associates research, currently 4% of...

There is so much happening in the smart home these days. Parks Associates latest consumer research - household data nationally representative of the US market- shows the following adoption and usage: Over 12 million US internet households own a smart door lock 51% of smart home owners who have recently experienced at least one technical issue report loss of wireless connectivity Leading smart home companies took action in Q1 2022 to add more brand equity and new...

A smart door lock belongs to the family of smart home access devices and is a wirelessly connected electromechanical lock—or retrofit mechanical control for a deadbolt—that can be remotely monitored, locked, and unlocked by communicating using a smartphone, tablet, computer, or smart speaker. It may communicate either directly, via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, or through a gateway or voice assistant. These devices provide keyless entry/exit serving as a replacement for traditional keyed locks...

Both seniors and caregivers are reactive purchasers of senior assistive technology, including PERS devices. The search for a solution typically begins only after an emergency occurs or when a senior is suddenly living alone after the death of a spouse. Fear-based marketing often plays into these scenarios, portraying a helpless senior unable to contact a loved one after falling. Though the original “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!” commercial aired 30 years ago, the phrase remains...

Parks Associates' study  "Context is King: Smart Home Video and Audio Analytics" examines how video and audio analytics are evolving and impacting the smart home user experience and profiles companies that are driving the technology forward. Innovation in video and audio analytics drives new applications and services like facial, emotional, gender, and object recognition, creating dramatic new capabilities to understand the context and deliver value. Embedding microphones...

Use cases that reduce OPEX in apartment environments include access management and control, energy management, and automated risk mitigation. These solutions can improve operations and add new layers of safety, security, and convenience.   Access Control   Access control use cases typically involve smart home solutions installed in common and public areas, including smart locks, smart garage door openers, and smart video doorbells.  ...