It's not a shocker that the mobile web is becoming increasingly ingrained into people's everyday lives. Pew has done a new study proving the extent of it. According to them:
"Nearly 40% of Americans have positive and improving attitudes about their mobile devices, which in turn draws them deeper into online activities that range from sharing and creating content to increasing personal productivity."
As John B. Horrigan, associate director of the Pew Internet Project and author of the typology report, explains, "For a sizable minority of Americans, mobile connectivity expands their digital horizons as they do more with their suite of wireline and wireless tools. Mobile services complement existing broadband assets, and these Americans find it increasingly hard to be without their connectivity traveling with them as they go."
What's really interesting is how they broke down the subgroups of users based on their findings of those who rely on stationary vs. mobile media.
"On the mobile side are:
• Digital Collaborators: (8% of the population) Very much about continual information exchange with others, as they frequently interact with others to create and share content or express themselves.
• Ambivalent Networkers: (7%) Extremely active in using social networking sites and accessing digital resources "on the go," yet aren't always thrilled to be contacted by others.
• Media Movers: (7%) Active distributors of user-generated content such as photos and videos.
• Roving Nodes:(9%) Active managers of their social lives via basic applications--texting and emailing--to connect with others, pass along information, and improve personal productivity.
• Mobile Newbies: (8%) Many in this group are recent cell phone adopters and very enthusiastic about how mobile service makes them more accessible.
Stationary media users include:
• Desktop Veterans:(13%) Tech-oriented, but in a "year 2004" kind of way. They consume online information and connect with others through traditional means such as email on a high-speed home connection.
• Drifting Surfers: (14%) Have the tools for connectivity, but are relatively infrequent users.
• Information Encumbered:(10%) Spend an average amount of time online, but complain about information overload and need help getting gadgets to work.
• Tech Indifferent:(10%) Have limited online access at home, and while most have cell phones, they bristle at their intrusiveness.
• Off the Network:(14%) Lack the tools for connecting digitally, with neither online access or cell phones."
So which one are you? I think I actually fall somewhere among Digital Collaborators, Ambivalent Networkers and Media Movers, depending on the day or mood.
What can I say, I'm a Libra...I'm allowed to be indecisive!