As the market eagerly anticipates Apple’s March 9 launch event to introduce the new Apple Watch, 81% of people already know the device includes a digital health and fitness monitor, according to a February 2015 HealthMine survey of 561 consumers with company-sponsored health plans. The HealthMine survey was fielded by Survey Sampling International (SSI) on March 1-2, 2015.
What’s more, age plays a significant role in demand for the Apple Watch. Forty-six percent (46%) of people age 18-34 are interested in getting it to track their health, while 38% of people age 35-54 are interested. Sixty percent (60%) of individuals age 55+ are not interested in getting an Apple Watch to track health.
Despite a growing selection of mobile fitness and health tracking technologies including the Apple Watch, the survey also revealed that the desktop/laptop computer is still the number one way people prefer to access their health information. For younger people age 18-54, the smartphone is a second choice for accessing health data. For respondents 55+, a smart phone is their last preference.
“One size fits none when it comes to health,” said Bryce Williams, CEO and President of HealthMine. “Consumers require a lot of education to understand and accept new health tools, and their preferences are highly personalized. Plus, we anticipate that Apple will quickly demonstrate that the Watch is the next device to watch when it comes to health and fitness. It will offer consumers a new, powerful choice in personalizing health.”
Williams added that it is important that health and wellness vendors must offer tailored solutions that work across multiple technology platforms and fit easily into people’s day-to-day lives.
“Apple has proven they know how to integrate new technologies that change our lives — and the Watch can be a true breakthrough in helping people improve their health,” Williams concluded.
