Get documents about "Computer Usage by Adults other than the Internet
Document Sample
Computer Usage by Adults
other than the Internet
By Harvey Heilbrun
EST 571
2/27/06
Introduction
• Much research has been done on the use of
computers for the Internet. Just go to:
http://www.pewinternet.org/ and do a
websearch on Internet usage and you will get
1082 documents.
• The Internet is not the only way computers
can be used.
• Once graduating from school, what ways are
computers being used other than the Internet?
• Is there a difference in computer use as
people get older?
Goals and Process
• To see where adults are using
computers other than the Internet.
• Use web searching of the Internet to
determine previously done research.
• Do an online survey to discover how
adults are using computers.
Research and Survey
• Very little research, if any, is published that looks at how
computers are being used outside of the Internet. See: (A
NATION ONLINE: How Americans Are Expanding Their Use Of The Internet )
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/dn/html/toc.htm
• An online survey was created to gather data on uses of
computers by adults using SurveyMonkey.com.
• The survey was linked to my class website (parents of
my present students were requested to fill out the
survey) and was e-mailed to certain individuals, over the
age of 55 and parents of ex-students of mine.
• It was also linked to a colleague’s website which was
named class of the week through Eduhound, providing
more access across the country.
• I posted a request on the AARP bulletin board.
Survey
1. Where do you use computers? (check all that apply)
• at home
• at work
• at someone else's house
• in the library
• Other (please specify)
2. On average, about how much time do you spend each day on computers?
3. What tasks do you use the computer for other than the Internet? (check all that apply)
• None
• Word Processing
• Accounting Software (like Quicken or Tax software)
• Spreadsheets (like Excel)
• Presentation software (like Powerpoint)
• Games
• To view DVDs
• To listen to CDs or downloaded music
• To read books or articles that have been downloaded or purchased.
• To copy disks, CDS, DVDs, Pictures, etc.
• To backup files
• To save or view pictures
• Other (please specify)
Survey cont.
4. On average, how much time to you spend on each of the following activities each week?
(remember it should add up to 100%)
• Internet
• Word Processing
• using Accounting Software (like Quicken or Tax software)
• using Spreadsheets (like Excel)
• using Presentation software (like Powerpoint)
• playing Games
• viewing DVDs
• listening to CDs or downloaded music
• reading books or articles that have been downloaded or purchased
• copying disks, CDS, DVDs, Pictures, etc.
• backing up files
• Saving or viewing pictures
• Other
•
5. What gender are you?
• Male Female
6. What age are you?
25-35 36-45 46-55 56-65 over 65
7. What is your highest level of education achieved?
high school 2-year college 4-year college
graduate school post-graduate school
Other (please specify)
Survey cont.
8. What best describes your occupation?
• Professional sportsperson
• Professional (doctor, lawyer, etc.)
• Education (teacher, educational administrator)
• Technical/engineer
• Public sector (police, firemen, transit, etc.)
• Government official
• Service/customer support
• Clerical
• Sales/marketing
• Production/manufacturing
• Trades/craftperson
• Student
• Self employed
• Unemployed, looking
• Retired
• Other (please specify)
•
9. How many children do you have?
• 0 1 2 3 4 5 more than 5
Data
• In all 72 responses were received from
my survey.
• 4 of those surveys were discounted
either due to incorrect age or faulty
data.
Demographics of Survey
Age Breakdown
65+ 25-35
12% 10%
56-65
15% 25-35
36-45
46-55
56-65
65+
36-45
44%
46-55
19%
Demographics of Survey
Gender Breakdown
Male
39%
Fe male
Male
Fe male
61%
Demographics of Survey
Internet Usage
• The highest use (more than 50% of their
time) of the Internet was in the 25-35 year old
group (71%).
• Significant drop in 36-55 year old groups
(27% & 23%).
• The second highest use was in the 56+ age
groups (50%).
Results
• Overall the two main uses of
computers other than the Internet were
Word Processing (85%) and Saving/
Viewing pictures (82%)
• Secondary uses were Copying disks
(59%), Spreadsheets (59%) and
Presentation software (50%)
Significant Results by Age Groups
• Looking at Word processing across the age
groups you notice a 22% decrease in usage
in people 65 and over, from the next lowest
usage.
• Looking at Music you notice the age groups
of 25-45 have a 20% higher usage than older
groups.
• Looking at Backing up files the 46-55 year old
group is almost 20% higher than any other
group.
What next?
• The small non-random sample of
respondents makes it impossible to
make any global conclusions or
predictions.
• Future research in this area would need
the following:
Larger more random sample size, mirroring the real
population.
Use paper surveys in addition to online ones.
Add the demographic of socio-economic status.
Look at gender, socio-economic status, level of
education and types of occupations differences.
Data
• Survey Results Question1 (Where computers used)
• Survey Results Question 3 (Computer Usage)
• Survey Results Question 4 (Time Spent)
• Survey Results Question 7 (Level of Education)
• Survey Results Question 8 (Occupation)
• Internet Usage of Computers compiled
• Non-Internet Usage of Computers
• Computer Usage by Age 25-35
• Computer Usage by Age 36-65+
Total Computer Usage
Total Computer Usage
90%
Word Pro
Pictures
80%
70%
Spreadsheets Copy
Percentage of Surveyed
60%
Presentation
50% Backup
40%
Music
Other
30% Accounting Games
Books
20%
DVDs
10%
0%
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Categories
Word Processing Usage
Word Processing C omputer Usage
100.0%
100%
90.0%
90% 86.7%
84.6%
80%
70%
Percentage of Surveyed
62.5%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
25-35 36-45 46-55 56-65 65+
Age Ranges
Music Usage
Music Usage
50%
46.7%
45%
42.9%
40%
35%
Percentage of Surveyed
30%
25.0%
25%
20.0%
20%
15.4%
15%
10%
5%
0%
25-35 36-45 46-55 56-65 65+
Age Groupings
Backing Up Files Usage
Backing Up Files Usage
90%
80% 76.9%
70%
60% 57.1%
Percentage of Surveyed
50.0%
50%
40.0%
40%
33.3%
30%
20%
10%
0%
25-35 36-45 46-55 56-65 65+
Age Groupings
Internet Usage
Internet Usage 50% or more of the Time
80%
71.4%
70%
60%
50.0% 50.0%
Percentage of Surveyed
50%
40%
30%
26.7%
23.1%
20%
10%
0%
25-35 36-45 46-55 56-65 65+
Age Groups
36-45 Computer Usage 46-55 Computer Usage
100% 90%
Word Pro Pictures
90% Word Pro 80% Backup
Pictures
80% Presentation
Spreadsheets
70%
Copy
70%
Percentage of Surveyed
Percentage of Surveyed
60%
Other
60%
Spreadsheets
Presentation 50%
Copy
50% Music
40%
40%
Backup Books
Books 30%
30% Accounting Games
Accounting Games
DVDs
Other 20%
20% Music
10% 10% DVDs
0% 0%
Word Pro Spreadsheets Games Music Copy Pictures Word Pro Spreadsheets Games Music Copy Pictures
Categories Categories
56-65 Computer Usage 65+ Computer Usage
100%
80%
Word Pro Pictures Pictures
90%
70%
80% W ord Pro Copy
60%
Percentage of Surveyed
70%
Percentage of Surveyed
Spreadsheets Backup
Spreadsheets
60% 50%
Copy
50% 40% Games Other
Accounting Backup Other
40%
30%
Accounting Presentation Music
Presentation Games Books
30%
20%
Music
20% Books
DVDs
10%
10%
DVDs
0%
0%
Word Pro Spreadsheets Games Music Copy Pictures
W ord Pro Presentation Music Backup
Categories Categories
25-35 Computer Usage
120%
Word Pro
100%
Pictures
Percentage of Surveyed
80%
Presentation
Spreadsheets
60% Copy Backup
Music
40%
Accounting Games Other
20%
DVDs Books
0%
Word Pro Spreadsheets Games Music Copy Pictures
Categories
Internet Usage
Internet Usage of Computers
45.0%
40.0%
35.0%
Per centag e of User s
30.0%
25-35
25.0% 36-45
46-55
20.0% 56-65
65+
15.0%
10.0%
5.0%
0.0%
0 <10 11-20 21-30 31-40 41-50 51-60 61-70 71-80 81-90 91-
100
Perc entage of Internet Us e
Non Internet Usage
Non Internet Usage of Computers
120.0%
100.0%
Per centag e of User s
80.0% 25-35
36-45
60.0% 46-55
56-65
40.0% 65+
20.0%
0.0%
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Categories of Usage
