By Christopher Ross
Three apparently disconnected trends are colliding to create interesting opportunities for content providers. First, Americans spend an inordinate amount of time in their cars commuting to and from work. Next, the amount of time they spend online is ever-increasing and, finally, the autonomous self-driving car is fast approaching on the horizon. Woven together and considered with some care, these trends could create a huge liability and require new legislation to prevent perceived risks. However, it is also likely that they could simultaneously open up a tremendous opportunity for content creators to meet growing consumers’ needs.
Our daily commute
The average American spends 111 hours in their car commuting, this according to a recent report from INRIX, Inc., a leading provider of real-time traffic information. This does not take into account those who commute by other forms of transportation. The report goes on to share this high annual commitment of time in one’s car creates an ‘ominous forecast for the US if traffic continues to impede the flow of people and commerce’. One key solution that is recommended by the report, and supported by other transportation analysts, is the legislation and policies to support the construction of infrastructure necessary to enable autonomous vehicle technology on roads.
Our daily internet
And while the amount of hours spent commuting each day suggests the vast majority of working Americans have increasingly less time on their hands, there is another trend that seems to point to another activity on the rise. The amount of time Americans are spending online overall is undeniably growing. According to the Global Web (GWI) Index Q1 2015 report, daily usage has grown from 5.55 hours in 2012 to 6.15 in 2014. This fact might surprise some, and confirm for others what they are witnessing around them or are experiencing in their own habits every day, on their PC, laptop, smartphone, watch, tablet and any even with their hotspot enabled automobile. One of the big drivers of this trend is the still-increasing level of engagement people are having with social networks. The study found usage went from an average of 1.61 to 1.72 hours daily. Also a newer trend is the growing enthusiasm for micro-blogging, as that interaction is now 0.81 hours per day.
Recent Comments