Category
Life-Stages
Constructible Franchises
Trend cluster
Category
Speaker
Companion
Kid-friendly features are being introduced to smart speaker systems.
5.0
Trend score
Trend
What is the Speaker Companion trend?
Speaker Companion: As the concept of the smart home is expanding and voice-control becomes a common feature of products, kid-friendly features enter the user interface of AI home assistants. These features engage, entertain and monitor children--alleviating some parental stress.
Insight
The consumer insight behind the Speaker Companion trend
Being part of a digital-savvy generation, Millennials invite technology to play a formative part in their child's life. The integration of these features into the home allows for the parental aids to be omnipresent and close by when needed, adding a layer of convenience and security. In turn, this soothes the stress some might experience when they attempt to juggle life's tasks -- from going to work and doing chores to cooking meals for their kids and keeping up with the news.
Trend themes
Themes within the Speaker Companion trend
Three behaviours holding the trend together01
Kid-friendly smart home features
As voice-control becomes a common feature of AI home assistants, kid-friendly features enter the user interface of smart speakers to engage, entertain and monitor children.
02
Tech interventions in family life
As technology becomes more integrated into family life, new forms of tech interventions are being adapted to intimate moments, such as storytime.
03
Screenless audio solutions
Consumers are turning to screen-less listening toys and smart speakers as a way to reduce screen time and stimulate children's curiosity and imagination.
Industry implications
What the Speaker Companion trend means for industry
Where the trend changes the playbookFor
Smart home technology
Smart speaker systems with kid-friendly features and voice-control are a growing trend in the smart home technology industry.
For
Toy manufacturing
Screen-less listening toys and interactive audio systems, like the TonieBox, present a disruptive innovation opportunity for the toy manufacturing industry.
For
Child development and education
The integration of kid-friendly features into smart speakers and voice-assistants has the potential to impact child development and education - representing a market opportunity for innovation.
Workshop question
How can a voice-assisting feature enhance the feeling of companionship for your product?
Trend signals
Trend signals for Speaker Companion
Trend score 5.0 out of 10, from popularity 84%, activity 58%, freshness 9%.
Popularity84%
Activity58%
Freshness9%
Audience
50%Men
50%Women
- Gen Alpha
- Gen Z (not a primary audience)
- Millennial (not a primary audience)
- Gen X (not a primary audience)
- Boomer (not a primary audience)
Market
North America
Europe
Asia-Pacific
Evidence
Examples of the Speaker Companion trend
4 featured examples from Feb 9, 2019 to Oct 12, 2020CategoryLife-Stages
Child-Targeted Smart Speakers
The New Amazon Echo Dot Kids Edition Has a Customizable Design
Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop educational technology solutions that align with the content and functionality of child-targeted smart speakers, providing enhanced lear…
CategoryTech
Screen-Free Story Time Speakers
The 'StoryPod' Smart Speaker Plays Stories, Music and More
Opportunity for educational institutions and toy companies to create screen-free educational tools that are interactive and engaging.
CategoryLife-Stages
Screen-Free Story Speakers
The TonieBox is a Clever Toy that Plays Stories and Songs
There is an opportunity for toy manufacturers to create more screen-less and interactive toys that support active play and imagination.
CategoryLife-Stages
Storytime-Enhancing Home Assistant Features
Google Home & Disney Add a Sense of Magic to Bed Time
Smart home gadget developers and makers can leverage collaboration with entertainment companies to create immersive storytime experiences.
