New Survey Finds Substantial Number of Households Not Crossed the Digital
Divide
DALLAS, May 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Roughly one-fifth of all U.S.
heads-of-household have never used e-mail, according to National Technology
Scan, a forthcoming study from Parks Associates. This annual phone survey
of U.S. households found 20 million households are without Internet access,
approximately 18% of all U.S. households.
"Nearly one out of three household heads has never used a computer to
create a document," said John Barrett, director, research, Parks
Associates. "These data underscore the significant digital divide between
the connected majority and the unconnected minority that rarely, if ever,
uses a computer."
Age and education are factors in this divide. One-half of those who
have never used e-mail are over 65, and 56 percent had no schooling beyond
high school.
National Technology Scan found just seven percent of the 20 million
"disconnected" homes plan to get an Internet subscription within the next
12 months. Still, the study reports a steady decline in the number of
disconnected households when comparing findings with previous years.
National Technology Scan reported at year-end 2006 that 29 percent of all
U.S. households (31 million homes) did not have Internet access, citing low
perceived value.
"Internet connections have slowly increased in U.S. households, but
getting the disconnected minority online will continue to be difficult,"
Barrett said. "Age and economics are important factors, but the heart of
the challenge is deeper. Many people just don't see a reason to use
computers."
National Technology Scan provides an accurate picture of current
adoption levels, demand, and total available market for technology products
and services in the U.S. For more information, visit
http://www.parksassociates.com or contact sales@parksassociates.com,
972-490-1113.
About Parks Associates
Parks Associates is an internationally recognized market research and
consulting company specializing in emerging consumer technology products
and services. Founded in 1986, Parks Associates creates research capital
for companies ranging from Fortune 500 to small start-ups through market
reports, primary studies, consumer research, custom research, workshops,
executive conferences, and annual service subscriptions.
Each year, Parks Associates co-hosts executive thought leadership
conferences CONNECTIONS(TM) and CONNECTIONS(TM) Europe in partnership with
the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA(R)). In addition, Parks
Associates produces the online publication Industry Insights in conjunction
with the CONNECTIONS(TM) Conference series.
http://www.parksassociates.com
http://www.connectionsconference.com
http://www.connectionseurope.com
http://www.connectionsindustryinsights.com
Contact: Chelsey Tyson
Parks Associates
972-490-1113
Email: chelsey@parksassociates.com
Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click
appropriate link.
John Barrett
http://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=68895
|
