Chicago Tribune

Patrice Samuels, senior analyst at Parks Associates, a market research company specializing in emerging consumer technology products and services, said demand for traditional technology support, like fixing bugs in computers or tablets, is falling as those devices are becoming more reliable.

Consumer questions now are about wireless connectivity and other network connectivity questions, whether those are traditional devices or smart home and/or other emerging technology, she ...read more

A study released this month by Parks Associates found only 18 percent of consumers would buy a smart thermostat at $250, but offering a $100 rebate more than doubled the pool of interested buyers.

"The market for smart thermostats is still in the early adopter phase," said Tom Kerber, director of internet of things strategy for Parks Associates, a Texas-based consumer technology research and consulting company. "To move beyond early adopters, they have to offer products at a ...read more

The trend of people freeloading off the Netflix or HBO passwords of paying subs has long been a question facing the industry, and during the Primetime Emmy Awards last year host Andy Samberg even made a joke about it. A study last year by research firm Parks Associates suggested SVOD services would stand to lose upwards of $500 million in revenue in 2015 from the practice.

From the article "Sharing Netflix Or HBO Go Passwords Is Now Technically A Federal Crime" by www.chicag ...read more

The changes are especially noticeable at Hulu, which is owned by parents of the very television networks — Fox, ABC and NBC — threatened by changes in the way we watch TV. Hulu has set itself apart by offering new TV episodes faster than its rivals; making viewers wait longer could limit its appeal.

"Hulu's DNA has been recent episodes of TV shows," said Glenn Hower, an analyst at the research firm Parks Associates.

From the article "TV Producers May Make You Wait For Ne ...read more

Hartstein's decision was made easier because of a flood of Internet streaming services that allows consumers to cobble together their own video packages. There are more than 100 Internet video services operating in the U.S., with at least 40% launching during the last two years, according to Dallas consulting firm Parks Associates.

Although Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime kicked off the streaming revolution, the field is getting more crowded with new entrants serving up niche ...read more

According to a new study by market research firm Parks Associates, 135 million people play a videogame at least one hour per month compared to 56 million four years ago.

"Instead of ending support of customers after they buy individual game titles, game companies now focus on building gamer communities and developing ongoing relationships with their customers," said Parks research analyst and study author Pietro Macchiarella. "The positive effect of this approach is that gam ...read more

Parks Associates, a consumer technology research firm, estimates that more than 10 million U.S. households will have a remote monitoring and control system by 2014.

From the article, "Household appliances, devices making all the right connections" by Wailin Wong