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Generation-long Internet Research Project Funded

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the i-want-the-results-now dept.

Wonko42 writes "Microsoft and AOL have put aside their bickering for a moment and teamed up to fund a research project that will examine the effects of the Internet on modern society. " The results of will be quite interesting-they are looking at not only the effects of usage, but also non-usage, which is equally important, IMHO. It looks like UCLA will be the key institution, and the time span is "at least a generation".

4 of 45 comments (clear)

  1. We need to monitor this by 0xdeadbeef · · Score: 3

    This is just the sort of fuzzy study that can be used as "proof" to further socioligical or political agendas. We (as in knowledgable and frequent users of the 'net) need to keep track this group's research to ensure that it is impartial. Consider the hysteria after Littleton, or the long running effort to censor anything that resembles porn. This study could be skewed in ways that could give credibility to all that silliness.

    Of course, I don't understand why this is a big deal. The GVU has been running a Web user survey for years.

  2. They've been working on this for a while. by Vince · · Score: 3
    This research has been going on at UCLA for a while. Recently, one of the big grad students was hired by Microsoft research. You can get info on his work at http://www.marcsmith.com/.

    As far as "fluff" goes, hey, it's Sociology. This is hard-core stuff for them.

  3. "at least a generation"? by jabber · · Score: 3

    Generation of people??
    It's hard enough to get a proper psychological study done over that length of time. For technology that's only been around that long to begin with, it'll be damn near impossible. Sounds to me like a publicity stunt designed to make the techno-behemoths appear sociologically minded.

    Now, if they're talking a generation of chips, that's much more plausible. 18 months of non-usage is sure to have some serious implications on the Klamath. :)

    --

    -- What you do today will cost you a day of your life.
  4. ...and here's the results of this amazing study by Kurt+Gray · · Score: 5

    People who user the Internet frequently:
    • 41% Need to double their eye glass' perscription every 6 months

    • 14% Can be seen driving the wrong way down one-way streets thanks to maps.yahoo.com

    • 75% Laugh at people who pay for pornography or software.

    • 54% Are fully aware that AOL sucks.

    • 99% Always want a bigger monitor.

    • 48% Would rather be playing Quake right now.

    People who do not use the Internet:

    • 52% Wonder if "surfing through cyberspace" is anything like snowboarding

    • 27% Still can't figure out how to dial ".com" on their telephone.

    • 21% Wrap their heads in tin foil to prevent the governement from monitoring their impure thaughts.