15 percent of U.S. adults are not connected

A new report from Pew Internet & American Life Project has uncovered some interesting insights into the use of technology by the American public.

by Helen Leggatt

According to Pew’s survey of over 4000 U.S. adults, of which 2,822 were Internet users, almost half (49 percent) have a “distant or non-existent relationship to modern information technology”. Of that group, called ‘Few Tech Assets’, 15 percent were found to be ‘off the network’ with no mobile phone or internet connection.

The report says that of those in the ‘off the network’ category, most are older adults with a median age of 64. This category also recorded the lowest incomes. While not connected to the internet they were not completely cut off. Most (82 percent) watched television every day and 76 percent had cable or satellite, recording the highest levels of watching television out of all the groups identified. Other categories in the 'Few Tech Assets' group are 'Inexperienced Experimenters' (8 percent), 'Light But Satisfied' (15 percent)and 'Indifferents' (11 percent).

At the other end of the scale is the ‘Elite’ group, made up of 31 percent of the population. This group consists of ‘productivity enhancers’ (8 percent), ‘connectors’ (7 percent), omnivores (8 percent) and ‘lacklustre veterans’ (8 percent) . Overall, this group regularly use technology in their lives, contribute to online content and use the internet to communicate.

Between the ‘Elite’ and ‘Few Tech Assets’ lie the ‘Middle of the Road Tech Users’. This group consists mostly of ‘mobile centrics’ (10 percent), who fully embrace the technology afforded to them by their mobile phones. The remaining 10 percent, 'Connected But Hassled' feel that while they have invested heavily in technology, they find it intrusive and the information something of a burden.

It’s clear from the report that there’s a huge potential audience to be tapped, an audience that requires fast and affordable internet access, easily integrated in to their daily lives without being overly intrusive.