Technological Hold-Outs

I found research about internet usage in the U.S.  that I think is quite interesting. About 15 percent of Americans older than 18 don't use the Internet, according to a study released in September by the Pew Internet and American Life Project. An additional 9 percent use it only outside the home. They are the hold-outs to the new technology they either don't want, don't understand or feel would lessen their quality of life. I do sympathize with them, as I also ignore much of the technology (Yes! I sincerely hate cell phones) that is the standard today.

The numbers of non usage are unsurprising. They make up a shrinking, but not insignificant, segment of the population. And the gap between them and the tech crazed society is growing wider every day. God bless them for not trading their souls for  technology and for their finding more to life than addiction to electronic gadgets. As one who is hooked on computers, but none of the other recent technologies I know how they feel. I have one  foot in both world's and find the tech world to be one of greater anxiety than the non tech world.

But the are disadvantages to not being hooked on that stuff. For example, Americans who don't have access to the Internet are increasingly cut off from job opportunities, educational resources, health care information, social networks, even government services. yet the pace of their lives is far less stressed and many feel the trade-off for not having a cell phone or computer is worth the inconvenience. I am with them, as I have found technology to be a convenience, but not a necessity or lifestyle.

Over 90 percent of U.S. households are either wired for high speed broad band or can get high speed wireless access, but just 69 percent of homes use broad band Internet service. And who are the non users? It's the oldies. Forty nine percent of non Internet users in the U.S. are older than 65. The Pew survey asked these people why they don't go online. Perhaps surprisingly, cost wasn't the most common answer.

The most prevalent reason, given by 34 percent of off line respondents, was that the Internet is not relevant to them. I agree! Nothing is more irrelevant to me than one of those _ _ _ _ cell phones. I will not trade my heart and soul for one of them.

Just  32 percent of the non users said that problems with using the technology is why they don't want it. They said that getting online was difficult or frustrating, or that they were worried about issues such as privacy or hackers. I suppose if introduced by a relative or friend or given the technology by some one some of those might adapt to it. But there is always a small percentage of people who prefer the simpler world and seem a lot happier because they do.