Drugi jezik na kojem je dostupan ovaj članak: Bosnian
The Huawei Consumer Business Group, in cooperation with the Ipsos agency, carried out an interesting research called “Smart (Telephone) Relations” in 12 countries (Croatia, Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Greece, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Turkey and Slovenia), to get acquainted with user habits when it comes to using smartphones throughout the day.
“We’ve conducted this research to find out the kind of relationship people have in general with their smartphones and how they use them when they communicate with their partners. The results helped us understand what is important to people when using smartphones, and how our products respond to their needs,” said Zha Zhang, Huawei Director for the Adriatic Region.
A comprehensive analysis of this research was carried out by psychologist Igor Mikloušić, and over the next two days we will present you the comprehensive analysis of the findings of this research along with Dr. Mikloušić’s take on them.
Making calls is no longer the main function of smartphones
Smartphones today are used for a variety of purposes. 84% of users check the news via their smartphone, 91% check social networks, 79% use navigation apps, more than half (71%) users use a smartphone to perform banking transactions, while 38% use the phone when they need some entertainment for the kids. Generally, users primarily use smart phones to find information, then for entertainment, but also to find a partner or flirt with a partner.
Probably not surprisingly, in the last week, 30% of users flirted using their smartphone. The most commonly used features are text messages (94%), e-mail and photos (91%), then access to social networks (85%), listening to music (69%) and playing games (62%). All these features are much more important than the primary function of the phone – making a call. Last week only 58% of users used their smartphone for calls. Dr. Mikloušić commented: “Some authors call mobile phones ‘Swiss army knives’ of today. They are the pocket solution of our everyday problems. This is exactly what this research suggests, showing that with the development of technology we now have at our fingertips a tool that helps solve the widest range of problems, and since a smartphone is just a platform, by analyzing the applications that are used or the reasons they are used, we can also see into human nature – curiosity and problem solving, play and entertainment, closeness and romance, these are some of our fundamental motivations. Communication has thus become just one of the ways this fantastic piece of technology allows us to find pleasure and reduce discomfort.”
Smartphone – our faithful ally in day and night
It is no secret that users are very tied to their smartphones, which is also confirmed by the data. 28% of them spend at least 20 hours a day or more on the phone or in its immediate vicinity. Only 2% of respondents say that they have a phone in their immediate vicinity for just an hour or less per day.
On average, the smartphone is actively used 3-4 hours a day, which is confirmed by 29% of users. 16% of users actively use their smartphone for 5 hours a day or more. Whopping 32% say they check the phone at least several times per hour, 19% do it once per hour, but only 3% check the phone once or twice a day.
The advantage of smartphones is, of course, their mobility. 16% of respondents always take their phone to the bathroom, 19% use it on the toilet, 53% in the living room, 24% in the kitchen, 38% in the home office and 51% in the bedroom. Smartphones are least likely to occur in a children’s room, in just 5% of cases, and more than half say this is the case only in exceptional situations or never.
In view of the above,it should be no surprise that 71% of users have a phone next to their bed while they sleep, while only 10% leave them in the other room while they are asleep. Among those who take their phone to the bedroom, 5% say their phone is the last thing they see before going to bed, of whom 23% check the latest news and events on their smartphone the very first thing in the morning. Mikloušić commented: “Although a certain number of people will always be skeptical of technological advances, we must not forget that most technological solutions have been created to alleviate the problems that we face in life, and the number of people who use phones, social networks and various apps for sending and receiving messages is just indicating our need to be connected. The changes brought about by the availability and advancement of these technologies are one of the brightest examples of the benefits of technology, especially when talking about long-distance relationships.”
Phone must always be with us
70% of users say they always take the phone with them when they leave the house. If they happen to forget the phone at home, 24% of employed people or students will return to get it, even if this results in being late for the job or lecture. 36% of employees and 4% of students say they would return for the device only if it wouldn’t mean they will miss their obligations.
Friends and family are still more important than the smartphone
During a family gathering, 35% of users have their phone on the table, 24% have it nearby, 25% in their pocket and 13% in their bag. Similar data applies for entertaining guests at home, so 37% of users have a phone next to them in such situations. When hanging out with friends in a bar or restaurant, only 12% of users leave their phone in the bag and 25% in their pocket. All users have their smartphones during business meetings, 14% of them hold it in their immediate vicinity, and the same goes for universities, where 33% of students hold their mobile phones on the desk.
Situations in which smartphone is not important
Children are our greatest treasure and the parents know it. When playing with kids, only 12% of users hold a mobile phone nearby, while 22% prefer to leave the device somewhere else. In the cinema, only 7% of users completely shut down their phone, and 86% of them set it to silent. 43% said they wouldn’t read received messages during the movie, while 24% would read them and answer them.
27% of users would be bothered if someone would interrupt a conversation with them to respond to a call, and 50% of the respondents are annoyed even if the interlocutor checks the messages during the conversation.
More important than the smartphone is… sex?
If smartphone users were to choose between a phone and some other attractive thing or activity, what would they choose? 69% would rather give up on television, 77% would cease eating candy for a month, and 81% would prefer to give up alcohol for half a year. On the other hand, 53% would rather give up a phone than the computer, 69% would give up the phone in exchange for vacation, 61% choose love life, 82% choose friends, and 34% choose play with the kids over the use of the mobile phone. What about sex? As much as 20% of respondents would prefer to spend half a year without sex, than to give up their smartphone. Mikloušić commented: “Despite all its advantages, the phone is still just a means to supplement or compensate for personal contact. Though its content it can enrich communication, contribute to solving problems through instant access to information, etc. However, until we find a way to completely immerse ourselves in the digital world, with emotions such as those that we get from the touch, view or even the proximity of our dear ones, we will rely on our real experiences, because our smartphones are still not up to that task. But who knows what the future brings…”
Read the rest of this interesting research tomorrow.