computer usage by adults other than the internet by harvey heilbrun est 571 2/27/06
TRANSCRIPT
Computer Usage by Adultsother 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.
Survey1. 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 Female6. 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 collegegraduate school post-graduate schoolOther (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 SurveyAge Breakdown
25-3510%
36-4544%
46-5519%
56-6515%
65+12%
25-3536-4546-5556-6565+
Demographics of Survey
Female61%
Male39%
FemaleMale
Gender Breakdown
Demographics of SurveyInternet 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
Word Pro
Accounting
Spreadsheets
Presentation
Games
DVDs
Music
Books
Copy
Backup
Pictures
Other
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
Word ProAccounting
SpreadsheetsPresentation
Games DVDs Music Books CopyBackup Pictures
Other
Categories
Percentage of Surveyed
Total Computer Usage
Word Processing Usage
Word Processing Computer Usage
100.0%
86.7%84.6%
90.0%
62.5%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
25-35 36-45 46-55 56-65 65+
Age Ranges
Percentage of Surveyed
Music UsageMusic Usage
42.9%
46.7%
15.4%
20.0%
25.0%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
50%
25-35 36-45 46-55 56-65 65+
Age Groupings
Percentage of Surveyed
Backing Up Files UsageBacking Up Files Usage
57.1%
33.3%
76.9%
40.0%
50.0%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
25-35 36-45 46-55 56-65 65+
Age Groupings
Percentage of Surveyed
Internet Usage 50% or more of the Time
71.4%
26.7%
23.1%
50.0% 50.0%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
25-35 36-45 46-55 56-65 65+
Age Groups
Percentage of Surveyed
Internet Usage
65+ Computer Usage
Word Pro
Accounting
Spreadsheets
Presentation
Games
DVDs
Music
Books
Copy
Backup
Pictures
Other
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
Word Pro Presentation Music Backup
Categories
Percentage of Surveyed
56-65 Computer Usage
Word Pro
Accounting
Spreadsheets
PresentationGames
DVDs
Music
Books
Copy
Backup
Pictures
Other
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Word Pro Spreadsheets Games Music Copy Pictures
Categories
Percentage of Surveyed
46-55 Computer Usage
Word Pro
Accounting
SpreadsheetsPresentation
Games
DVDs
Music
Books
Copy
Backup
Pictures
Other
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
Word Pro Spreadsheets Games Music Copy Pictures
Categories
Percentage of Surveyed
36-45 Computer Usage
Word Pro
Accounting
SpreadsheetsPresentation
GamesDVDs
Music
Books
Copy
Backup
Pictures
Other
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Word Pro Spreadsheets Games Music Copy Pictures
Categories
Percentage of Surveyed
25-35 Computer Usage
Word Pro
Accounting
SpreadsheetsPresentation
Games
DVDs
Music
Books
Copy Backup
Pictures
Other
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
120%
Word Pro Spreadsheets Games Music Copy Pictures
Categories
Percentage of Surveyed
Internet UsageInternet Usage of Computers
0.0%
5.0%
10.0%
15.0%
20.0%
25.0%
30.0%
35.0%
40.0%
45.0%
0 <10 11-20 21-30 31-40 41-50 51-60 61-70 71-80 81-90 91-100
Percentage of Internet Use
Percentage of Users
25-3536-4546-5556-6565+
Non Internet UsageNon Internet Usage of Computers
0.0%
20.0%
40.0%
60.0%
80.0%
100.0%
120.0%
Word ProAccounting
SpreadsheetsPresentation
Games DVDs Music Books CopyBackupPictures
Other
Categories of Usage
Percentage of Users
25-3536-4546-5556-6565+
