Home Technologies Survey

The Australian public has well and truly embraced the concept of a digital world,

The Australian public has well and truly embraced the concept of a digital world,
indicating that 'smart wiring' is an intrinsic feature of many of today's preferred
entertainment and home automation systems.

A recent national survey entitled The Connected Home in 2007, conducted by
Connection Research and involving 3,000 respondents, examines in detail all aspects of the public's current and anticipated home automation needs.

Comprising a master report and five specific modules, this extensive survey data
reveals that Australians have a growing understanding of most appliances and
systems involving smart wiring, and that many households are already equipped with such services as Pay TV, digital TV and a range of Internet-based facilities.

Importantly, healthy proportions of respondents have expressed that they will or might invest in networked digital technologies in the next 12 months.

"We are now seeing significant steps towards convergence and interoperability,"
the master report summarises. It is too early to say convergence has arrived, but it is certainly much closer than it has been in recent years. Virtually every question asked in this year's survey shows a movement towards an increased consumer acceptance of digital technology, and of improved consumer understanding of what the technology means."

Graeme Philipson, research director at Connection Research, says more than 10% of the people surveyed are considering installing some aspect of home automation technology - and nearly 20% in the case of climate control.

"The survey breaks all questions down by detailed demographics," Graeme says.
"Interest in installing home automation is significantly higher amongst wealthier
households, as might be expected, but when the question becomes one of thinking about it ('might' install), there is no difference by household income level."

Click here to download a pdf of the report overview

A full copy of the report can be obtained at www.connectionresearch.com.au