A new report by software specialist iControl finds that security is still consumers' number-one smart home priority.

Mari Silbey, Senior Editor, Cable/Video

May 15, 2014

1 Min Read
Security Tops Smart Home Wish List

While the home automation market continues to grow, security is still the most important feature for consumers when they shop for a smart home solution.

Software specialist Icontrol Networks Inc. , which works with a number of major North American MSOs, has released a new report on the 2014 State of the Smart Home this week. Based on a survey of 932 US consumers aged 25 and older, and with an annual income of at least $40,000, iControl found that fire detection and carbon monoxide alarms ranked highest in importance among smart home services. Less critical, but still important, consumers cited gas leak alarms and valve shutoff as top security features.

Despite service providers' efforts to promote such other services as home video monitoring and location tracking of family members, consumers showed little interest in those features in the iControl study. Only 20% of respondents highlighted remote monitoring as one of their top three smart home priorities.

Among the other findings in the iControl report:

  • 86% of respondents ranked property loss protection as important in a smart home system

  • 78% of consumers ranked energy management as a top smart home feature

  • 52% of pet owners listed pet monitoring among their top five priorities

  • 51% said they would pay "up to $500 more for a fully-equipped smart home"

Interestingly, iControl found minimal variation in consumer opinions across age, gender, and income brackets. Instead, respondents' enthusiasm for technology was the most reliable factor in predicting smart home preferences.

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— Mari Silbey, special to Light Reading

About the Author(s)

Mari Silbey

Senior Editor, Cable/Video

Mari Silbey is a senior editor covering broadband infrastructure, video delivery, smart cities and all things cable. Previously, she worked independently for nearly a decade, contributing to trade publications, authoring custom research reports and consulting for a variety of corporate and association clients. Among her storied (and sometimes dubious) achievements, Mari launched the corporate blog for Motorola's Home division way back in 2007, ran a content development program for Limelight Networks and did her best to entertain the video nerd masses as a long-time columnist for the media blog Zatz Not Funny. She is based in Washington, D.C.

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