NUERNBERG, Germany — It turns out that wearable tech might be scaring away our wallets, a recent study by market research group GfK suggests.
The research revealed that while 50 percent of those polled were aware of such products (including Google Glass, Samsung Galaxy Gear, Sony Smartwatch, Nike Fuelband, Pebble and Fitbit), only six percent of the general public actually owned one of them.
This information contrasted with the study’s other finding — that six in ten 16-24 year olds found the idea of a smartwatch appealing and four in ten of participants in that age group felt the same way about Google Glass.
One reporter at Mobile Entertainment proposed today that it may be the high price of the devices that has been deterring people from purchasing them.
Although not mentioned in the piece, the demographic most excited and most knowledgable of the wearable tech renaissance — 16-24 year olds — are even less likely than their older cohorts to have enough dough to splurge on high-tech accoutrements.
Google Glass could set you back more than $1,000, and, although smartwatches run slightly cheaper — think $250-500 — they still might make your wallet do a double take.
GfK’s study shows that the populace at large hasn’t jumped on the wearable tech bandwagon yet, but some think it’s just a matter of time.
Stephen Yagielowicz, senior technology editor for XBIZ, wrote on a message board that early generations of the cell phone were also not popular right off the bat. As the technology improved, so did the mass appeal.
“Give it 10 or 20 years and we'll be past wearables and talking about implants,” he wrote.