Young And Old 'In Synch' For PC Use

The use of digital photography and the emailing of digital images are popular among PC users — both young and old — according to new research from MORI for Packard Bell. A third (32%) of the over 55s use their PC for storing/sending and receiving digital photographs — almost the same as 15-24 year olds (31%).

In fact, the use of home PCs by the over 55s and 15-24 year olds is closely synchronised in many areas. These include using the home PC to stay in touch with friends and relatives (60% of over 55s surveyed and 66% of 15-24 year olds), compiling databases (22% for both) and organising diaries (15% compared to 13%).

Laptops — Any Time, Any Where

Laptop owners no longer restrict its use to the office or trains, according to new research from MORI. The survey, conducted for Packard Bell, reveals an intimate relationship between user and laptop with a quarter (25%) admitting they use their laptop in bed. Among single people who own a laptop, two in five (43%) take it to bed.

Some admit to using their laptop in the bathroom (one per cent), and the same percentage use it whilst on the toilet. One in 20 (four per cent) use it on the beach. A quarter (25%) also use their laptop in the garden and six per cent use it in a park.

A quarter (25%) use their laptop on a train, bus or plane and one in five (20%) in a car. Men are more likely than women to use their laptop in a wider variety of locations and situations, particularly in the car (27% male, 11% female), on holiday (22% male, 15% female), in a restaurant (13% male, five per cent female) and on the beach (six per cent male, one per cent female). In fact, the only place where women use their laptop more than men is at the library (20% female, 16% male).

PC 'Managing Modern Life'

Three-quarters (77%) of home PC users use their PC to help organise their homes and lives, according to new research from MORI for Packard Bell. Three in five (58%) carry out word processing tasks, and the same number source information from the Internet. More than two-thirds (69%) are also using the PC for home entertainment. For the 15-24 year old age range, multimedia and entertainment are the prime uses on their PCs (85%).

Slightly more men who use a PC at home use it to catch up with friends and relatives than women (68% compared to 64%) and two in five men (42%) shop online (compared to 40% of women).

A third (32%) of over 55's use their PC to store, send and receive digital images compared to 31% of 15-24 year olds. In addition, 15% of the older generation organise their diaries on their PC compared to 13% of 15-24 year olds. Three in five (60%) of older users keep in touch with friends and relatives via their PC, and three quarters of over 55's (74%) agree the PC will become increasingly important for watching and downloading movies and music.

Almost nine in 10 (87%) PC users agree the PC is becoming increasingly important in our lives. Some believe that, over the next five years, the PC will take on a central role in home management — from turning on household appliances from outside the home (13%) to monitoring food content in the fridge (five per cent). Approximately one-third of people, who do not already do so, anticipate they will use their PC for banking and to pay bills (37%), book holidays and tickets (35%) and shop online (31%) in the next five years.

Other key findings revealed by the survey include:

• 80% of men use their PC for organising their homes and lives compared to 73% of women
• More single than married people consider the PC to be a tried and trusted friend (62% compared to 53%)
• 61% of people with broadband access consider their PC to be a tried and trusted friend
• A fifth (21%) of those questioned who do not do so now, believe they will use their PC to store, send and receive digital images in the future
• 86% of 15-24 year olds agree that the PC is becoming increasingly important in our lives
• 87% of those aged 55 and over agree that the PC is becoming increasingly important in our lives
• 78% of those with a low level of PC competency agree that the PC is becoming increasingly important in our lives

Technical details

A nationally representative quota sample of 985 home PC users, aged 15+ were interviewed throughout Great Britain on the MORI Omnibus, across 195 sampling points. Interviews were carried out using CAPI (Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing), face-to-face in respondents' homes between 8 – 12 May 2003. Data have been weighted to reflect the known national population profile.