IoT for all Ages: How IoT can Benefit Younger and Older Generations
As the internet of things (also known as IoT) continues to increase in popularity and availability, we have to look beyond what it is doing for workplaces and see what it can do for everyone.
IoT should not be limited to one generation, but instead can and will work well for everyone, no matter which age bracket they fall under. You too can take advantage of the wonderful benefits of IoT and transfer the benefit onto your employees, customers, and even family members.
When we first think of IoT technology, our assumption will go to millennials, who have been consistently shown to rely on their smartphones and other wireless tech. But what about the other generations?
IoT tech is something that is useful and important for people of any age, from children up through Baby Boomers.
Kids
IoT should not be restricted to adults, but in fact can help adults keep their children safe. With a more accurate reading of a room’s environment, guests will easily be able to determine the appropriate and comfortable room temperature to meet the needs of their children.
Noise, especially when it comes to young children, can be a huge concern. Noise can interrupt naps, quiet time, or even just disturb a task. Through the use of IoTs, noise can also be measured to see where areas might need to be more soundproofed or whether there was anything else that could be done to improve sound quality.
Beyond what you can do for kids, there is also what the kids would like to be able to do for themselves. Imagine children being able to walk around a room and have the room be able to account for their body heat and adjust accordingly? Or being able to notify you that your child has attempted to or did leave the premises?
IoT can ensure the health and the safety of any children that are on your premises, giving their parents the peace of mind they deserve while also allowing the children to be comfortable.
If we look past just keeping children safe, however, IoT has a huge impact on all of their lives. These children are growing up with the internet being accessible and available everywhere. This means toys that have internet connections, smart watches, and even phones and tablets that use an internet connection to function. IoT is what children expect because it has always been there for them.
Gen Z
As Generation Z comes of age, their relationship with IoT is changing, veering from the safety and games that they might have used as children. As Gen Z is still young, the majority of their time using IoTs currently rests with social media, so the use of smartphones and tablets that use social media apps are essential.
As some of Gen Z has entered college, they are using IoT on campus as well, including tapping into campus WiFi through laptops and tablets. In classes themselves, many lessons are also relying on IoT, utilizing smartboards, computers, and other devices to communicate with students as well as perform presentations during class.
Millennials
Even though millennials dominate the use of IoT, it would be remiss to exclude them from this list. A millennial is generally defined as a person born between 1981 and 1996, putting them in a current age range from 22 to 37 years old at the moment. Some are still in college while others have established their careers. Despite IoT being associated with millennials, a study showed that 85% of millennials do not own any IoT.
The IoT that they do own includes home devices, such as Alexa, tablets, fitness watches, but they do not extend to the smart home devices like thermostats and refrigerator technology. This seems to be mostly caused by a lack of home ownership rather than a dislike for the tech, however. IoT, when it is available for them, can really enhance their lives, allowing them create comforts of temperature adjustments or being able to order pizza while sitting on the couch.
Gen X
Both Gen X and Baby Boomers can also make use of IoT technology. As was shown in a survey, 59 percent of Gen X respondents intended to purchase wearable IoT, which includes the increasingly popular fitness wristbands. What is more interesting is that fewer millennials (47 percent) had made the same claim, showing that Gen X is more interested in fitness-related IoT.
From that survey, we can deduce that Gen Xers are more inclined to think about their longevity and pay more attention to their overall health. For that reason, having the ability to know not just the temperature of a room, but everything about its air quality will improve the overall satisfaction of a Gen Xer in a space. Gen Xers like their smart home devices, like smart thermostats that can be adjusted remotely. They also appreciate the smart fridge that can keep track of what you are low on, letting you check in when you are already at the store.
Baby Boomers
It should come as no surprise that if IoT is a great choice for children, millennials, and Gen X that it also has a place among Baby Boomers. According to a survey, 45 percent of Baby Boomers have stated they would like to put a smart thermostat in their home within the next five years, which is high when compared to the 35 percent of millennials who agree.
Since Baby Boomers have already shown their interest in being able to control their environment, having IoT devices that can read not just the temperature, but also the humidity and air quality are naturally other factors that they would also like to not only know about, but be able to control. Smart thermostats can also be adjusted remotely, allowing users to stay where they are at.
IoT is for Everyone
Ultimately, IoT technology for an improved environment within a space is something that is good for everyone, regardless of age. After all, who wouldn’t want to have a room be the right temperature or even humidity level? This type of IoT serves children and Baby Boomers alike.
Younger generations might use IoT more for pleasure and entertainment than comfort and practicality, but the bottom line is that every generation can use IoT to improve their lives.
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