Even when faced with competition from other devices, the television has managed to maintain its place as the center of the home. And it may solidify that position even further as the Internet of Things develops.
According to a new report from Strategy Analytics, while consumers are still primarily interested in better picture quality the primary factor when it comes to buying a new television (followed by price and size), they are also interested in using their television (and especially its remote) for purposes that go beyond consuming entertainment content.
The desire, according to the study, is to use the device that has always been central to the home to take on an even greater role as the hub of a smart home, particularly through the use of an enhanced and expanded remote.
Previous research from the firm revealed consumers don’t want to use multiple apps to control multiple smart-home devices, and instead would prefer a unified software platform to manage the various devices around the house. The company’s “Next Gen TV” report suggests that platform could come through the television remote.
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Among the features consumers may be looking for in such next-generation television operations include voice and gesture control, smartphone/tablet activation, or an interface that behaves like a tablet, customizable buttons and chargeable batteries and wireless charging stations, says Taryn Tulay, a senior analyst at Strategy Analytics.
“It is imperative that this remote offers quick access to content of interest, and evolves beyond current cumbersome remotes,” Tulay stated
