Research into people’s use of technology in the home, which was conducted by Hotpoint as part of their study into the nation’s Home IQ, saw the introduction of catch up TV, first getting a dishwasher and switching to an electric toothbrush described as life-changing.
Researchers who carried out a detailed study among 2,000 UK adults found we consider broadband, microwaves and the ability to send emails as key life changers worthy of a place in the hall of fame.
Results showed that six in ten Brits feel they are slow to get the latest technology and a third will only buy new appliances if the old ones are broken.
It also revealed that many a Brit upgrades their partner more often than they change their appliances – nearly a third had a fridge, toaster or washing machine that had outlasted several relationships.
“The list of life-changing products shows the way our routines, social time and quality of life is altered by the things we surround ourselves with and certain purchases have us wondering how we ever lived without them.”A Hotpoint spokesman said: “As technology evolves so do our appliances and as a result the way we live day to day changes too.”
“The results showed that, despite being such a crucial part of our daily lives, many of us have several appliances that are currently broken or not fully functioning. This means our homes are performing far below the level they could be both in terms of being more eco-friendly and less costly to run.’’
The research showed the impact of domestic appliances on modern British life and found the average home has three major appliances that are currently broken or only partly functioning.
A fifth of Brits reportedly care more about how their home appliances look than what they can do and just three in ten felt they had any appliances that could be deemed the ‘latest’ smart technology.
Hotpoint has teamed up with The Gadget Show presenter Suzi Perry to help change people’s homes for the better by making them smarter and more efficient.
Speaking about the campaign, Suzi said: “If we embraced innovation in our appliances as we do our smartphones and televisions, we would not only expand what we can do within the home but save precious time and money in the process.”
Dishwashers, washing machines and printers were the items people were most likely to say were on the blink but had yet to upgrade.
The different spending priorities of Brits emerged as a clear factor in the results- a fifth of those surveyed had changed their car in the last year. But when it comes to appliances, just 16 per cent could say they felt their home was ‘up to date’.
When scoring their homes on how their appliances and items performed compared to the available options, the average Brit scored six out of ten.
Hotpoint marketing director Piero Pracchi added: ‘’Keeping our homes performing efficiently not only saves us money in the long run but it can also enhance our lifestyles by utilising the latest advances in technology. With this study, Hotpoint wanted to challenge consumers to consider how smart their homes really are and to help them change for the better by making their homes smarter and more efficient.”
