We all know the warning signs of Crackberry addiction--bloodshot eyes, sweaty palms, instant replies to your emails regardless of the time of day. More and more companies these days are making the Blackberrys standard issue, as the devices are far more attractive than your run-of-the-mill dog leash. Do Blackberrys (and other smartphones, for that matter) allow us to get more done or do they simply force us to work more? The answer, it turns out, may differ depending on whether you're talking about perception or practice. In a study of 1,600 Americans, Digital Life America asked participants if smartphones "chain you to work more than they liberate you." Roughly a third of Americans agreed, a third disagreed and a third remained neutral. Among smartphone owners, the results were similar: 34 and 37 percent agreed and disagreed, respectively.
Despite this inconclusive evidence, other statics collected paint a more revealing picture: 19 percent of smartphone owners work more than 50 hours a week (compared with 11 percent of the general population) and 53 percent feel they don't have enough personal time in their lives (compared with 40 percent). Despite these negative statistics, the average household income of a smartphone owner was 50 percent higher than the general population. Though this may simply reflect the obvious fact that people with more disposable income are more likely to buy such devices (or to hold positions where smartphones are required), it might also suggest that people who are more successful tend to buy such devices.
For more on the study:
- see this Ars Technica article
