Automobile-tech ownership is the lowest in BC 

Canadians are enthusiastic about technology, from current ownership of products such as smart speakers and smart watches to broader innovations still coming to market such as 5G and drones, according to two new reports from the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)

While nine-in-ten of those living in Ontario (90%) and Alberta (91%) own a smartphone, Quebec (79%) and Atlantic Canada (78%) have lower ownership rates, according to CTA’s 4th Annual Consumer Technology Ownership and Market Potential Study.

While nine-in-ten of those living in Ontario (90%) and Alberta (91%) own a smartphone, Quebec (79%) and Atlantic Canada (78%) have lower ownership rates.

Household ownership of video-game technologies – console, portable or retro devices – is highest in Ontario (58%) and lowest in British Columbia (38%) and the Atlantic region (37%).

The highest ownership rates of wearable fitness trackers are in Ontario (29%) and Manitoba/Saskatchewan (23%), and smart watches in Ontario (20%) and Alberta (17%).

Ownership of wireless earbuds is high in Ontario (31%) and Quebec (35%), compared to the other regions where the ownership rate is 21% or less.

When it comes to automobile technology, Quebec residents (30%) are more likely than average (20%) to own a remote starter. Ownership rates are lowest in the Atlantic provinces (11%) and British Columbia (5%).

Another report, CTA’s Emerging Technology in Canada: 2019 Consumer Sentiment, identifies some regional gaps in awareness of emerging tech. Almost half (47%) of people in Toronto have taken advantage of ridesharing, while only approximately one-third (31%) of Canadians overall have used the service. And while 53% of all Canadians expect smart cities to have a meaningful impact on society within five years, 70% of Torontonians expect the same.