Internet-of-things and wearable technology needs defined by age

In general, it makes sense to assume that younger generations are more likely to accept and embrace new technologies. While older generations lament the fate of print magazines, younger generations are reading those same publications from a tablet, and asking, “What’s a magazine?” Interestingly, though, a new survey finds that there are certain kinds of Internet-of-Things gadgets and wearable technologies that break that stereotype because they cater to needs that are more applicable to, or defined by older generations.

I wrote about the survey in this blog post:

Wearable tech and Internet-of-Things (IoT) gadgets are all the rage. A new survey from Acquity Group, though, illustrates how different generations are embracing these new developments.

The study defined three age groups: Millennials (ages 18-25), Generation X (ages 26-35), and Baby Boomers (over age 45). (I guess that group between age 36 and 45 just isn’t very interesting). Overall, Acquity Group found that younger consumers are most likely to adopt connected technologies in the long run, but older consumers are more likely to own certain products already.

For example, 53 percent of Millennials plan to buy some sort of in-home IoT technology in the next five years, compared to only 32 percent of Baby Boomers. When it comes to wearable tech, 36 percent of Millennials plan to adopt wearable tech gadgets in the next five years, while only 25 percent of Baby Boomers indicated as such.

When the focus goes from the general wearable tech to wearable fitness tech, however, 59 percent of the Generation X crowd said they’ll adopt it within five years, but only 47 percent of Millennials agreed. This seems to reflect the differences in the stages of life. Millennials are still in the immortality phase, while the Generation X group is starting to feel its age and recognize that fitness requires some conscious effort.

You can read the full post at PCWorld: Survey finds generation gaps in adoption of new tech.

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Tony Bradley

Editor-in-Chief at TechSpective

I have a passion for technology and gadgets--with a focus on Microsoft and security--and a desire to help others understand how technology can affect or improve their lives. I also love spending time with my wife, 7 kids, 4 dogs, 7 cats, a pot-bellied pig, and sulcata tortoise, and I like to think I enjoy reading and golf even though I never find time for either. You can contact me directly at tony@xpective.net. For more from me, you can follow me on Threads, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

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