Web Poll

I'm interested in the difference between what Joe average (if there is such a beast) really wants out of the internet, what they currently use it for, what they'd like to use it for (if they use it), and issues that may be holding them back from taking the plunge.

I dont really wanna reinvent the poll wheel and capture too much generic internet use stuff, more interested in specific uses of the technologies, and technical, cultural or experience barriers to use.

demographics

There is obviously gonna be a huge disparity between what a teenager who's grown up with connectivity and online social activity uses the internet for compared to say an older person who may have missed out, so demographic details will be required:

• age, sex, own or rent (not too personal like income)
• work status: employed, retired, student, unemployed

on-line access

Snapshot of the user's current on-line connectivity status and recent history. Past polls have indicated that level of education and length of experience with the net are the two strongest influences on an individuals time spent online.

• how long have you been using the net for
• do you have broadband or dial-up at home
• how often do you access the web from home
• how often do you access the web from work
• do you have a cellphone (and how often used)
• do you use internet services on your cellphone
• do you have a laptop
• do you know how to use wireless hotspots
• have you accessed wireless from your laptop

on-line services

Services and tools they may use, is there really a demand or need?

• do you use a search engine other than Google
• do you use a web based email service (e.g. Hotmail)
• do you use the Internet for shopping (and how often)
• do you use internet banking
• do you make IP phone-calls (e.g. Skype)

entertainment

a crap-load of money and effort is going into entertainment use of the net, this is clearly a money earner for the popular sites and their advertising models, but how many people really are sourcing their entertainment online, vs conventional radio, tv or newpaper etc.

• are the majority of your current entertainment needs source online, or thru conventional channels (e.g. newspaper, tv, magazines, CDs etc)
• are you a member of any on-line gaming communities (e.g. second-life)
• have you played games on-line (and how often)
• do you watch videos online (e.g. YouTube)
• do you download music from the internet (and how often)
• have you paid for music on-line
• do you synch music you download with a portal media player (e.g. iPod)
• do you stream audio from online radio stations (how often)

content authoring

there is a load of money being spent on authoring tools and services but how many people really have the know-how or confidence to actually publish or share something of their own for the world to see? The stats show that currently a minority of authors publish the majority of content, this is changing tho:

• do you regularly read any blogs
• do you have your own public blog
• or author a public website or place (e.g. Myspace)
• do you use IRC or IM (e.g. MSMessenger)
• do you have photos on-line (e.g photobucket, flickr)
• have you ever uploaded/shared your own videos or music
• do you worry about where your content is stored and who owns it
• have you authored content in a wiki

privacy and security

am interested in knowing the level of confidence users have in online services and their security, really wanna know what's stopping them using these services and what might need to change to improve uptake.

• do you worry about security of financial details on-line
• do you worry about privacy on-line
• do you have a SPAM filter
• do you have a virus checker
• do you reuse or worry about forgetting passwords

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Other polls:

• http://www.stanford.edu/group/siqss/Press_Release/press_detail.html

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See Also: Notes Index

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