• by Chuck Martin , Staff Writer, May 9, 2017

Mobile technology already got most consumers connected and now the Internet of Things is doing the same for their homes.

A profile of connected home users is emerging, including who they are and why they connect various things.

The majority (62%) of connected home users are male and 38% are female, with the highest users being between 25 and 34 years old, according to a new Nielsen study on how consumers use technology to secure their homes.

The study comprised a survey of 5,900 adults who either use or are interested in connected home, car or wearable technology.

Consumers are using a wide range of connected technologies in their homes. Here are the uses, according to the Nielsen study:

• 58% -- Home automation
• 57% -- Wireless home security
• 34% -- Smart wireless sound system, speakers
• 26% -- Connected appliances
• 20% -- Smart home assistants
• 7% -- Other connected things over Wi-Fi

In addition to using a wide range of connected technologies, consumers also are quite busy using such devices on a daily basis. Here are the most frequently used daily home automation features:

• 70% -- Lighting control
• 68% -- Garage door controls
• 66% -- Access monitoring and control
• 62% -- Heating, cooling control
• 57% -- Audio/video control
• 56% -- Smoke detector, carbon monoxide detector
• 55% -- Electric outlets, power strips
• 50% -- Appliance controls
• 49% -- Water control

Safety and security are the big drivers for getting connected. The vast majority (92%) of home security system owners agree that the reason for using a home security system is peace of mind.

The CTA says that roughly 8% of households own a voice-activated digital assistant device, two times more than the previous year. The consumer technology trade group projects that device sales this year will reach 11 million units, a 52% increase from last year.

The percentages of households with digital assistants is relatively small but the numbers, at about 11 million units to be bought this year, are large. The number will likely continue to grow, since consumers have plenty of reasons to eventually dive in.

Non-users with a high interest level in connected home technology are most interested in the following, according to Nielsen:

• 71% -- Wireless home security
• 64% -- Home automation
• 38% -- Connected Appliances
• 44% -- Connected wireless speakers
• 43% -- Smart home assistant

It’s not only security that appeals to consumers. Interest in other connected home technology ranges from smart technology that can sense when the home occupant’s normal behaviors and patterns have changed and alert loved ones, to a smart pillow that can detect when you’re awake and initiate other home automation features.

About half (49%) of users of connected home technologies desire a single-device connected home system and would prefer to control all aspects of their home through a single device, service or app. We’re not quite there yet.

The Internet of Things is still a work in progress.

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All kinds of smart home technology will be discussed at the MediaPost IoT Marketing Forum May 18 in New York. Here’s the agenda.