1-15-2015
It's an article on smart TV: How does this effect radio? Stay with me here. AdWeek is giving details on a Philips uWand report that while smart TV use is on the rise, use of social media on the devices is down. Specifically video clip viewing, gaming, and Internet browsing is decreasing on smart TV. Reading between the lines of the report, there could be some implications on future connected car trends.
Despite the widespread adoption of social media, the use of social services on smart TV decreased by 20 percent in the last two years, from 30 percent in 2012 to10 percent in 2014. Internet browsing is also way down on smart TVs, from 44 percent in 2012, to 25 percent in 2014. Making the report even more intriguing, Internet-based streaming catch-up services, such as Comcast's Xfinity, is up by 13 percent. One takeaway from the report is that TV users are using their TV, well, as a TV. Despite the integration of apps and more social services, users are either being frustrated with the interface or using TV for their original intention, to view video.
The implications for the connected car interface gold rush now taking place might imply dashboard use could follow the same trends. Drivers used to a simple-to-operate radio in their car might just end up using in-dash connected car hardware the way they've always used the dash, to listen to the "radio." There might be something to the pushback from automakers to hop on the Google or Apple bandwagon with their connected car offerings. Google and Apple are battling for the dashboard, but car makers so far are staying agnostic on outside operating systems.
Automakers have noted that one of the reasons so many of them are opting for an in-house OS for the connected car, such as Ford's Sync, is they they believe they have a better handle on what drivers want and need in-dash. Carmakers are targeting a more distraction-free and simplistic interface for drivers. This latest research on smart TVs hints they might have a point.
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