Survey on Complex Media Use and Multitasking

Thank you for taking this survey. Today, people use all kinds of media and complex internet technologies to get their messages out to the world and to find out about the world around them The purpose of this survey is to determine how people might use different kinds of media together, with the final goal of prototyping a design for a simpler "magazine of the future". The data from this survey is anonymous and you may decline to answer any question. This survey is being conducted by Adrienne Bolger (enneirda at mit dot edu) a member of the Physical Language Workshop at the MIT Media Lab .

Gender:

male female

Age:

Under 18
18 to 30
31 to 45
46 to 60
61 to 75
75 and older

How many hours a week, including time at work, do you spend on the Internet?

Blog Use: please choose the option that best describes you:

I have never heard of a "weblog" or "blog".
I know what a blog is, but don't ever use them.
I read or write in blogs occasionally.
I read or write in blogs on a daily basis.

RSS Feeds (also known as Real Simple Syndication Feeds): Please choose the sentence that best describes you.

I have never heard of RSS technology before.
I am aware of the existence of RSS, but I do not use it.
I use RSS feeds occasionally.
I use RSS feeds every day.

Personalized web news services refer to websites like Yahoo! News and Google News that let you choose the types of headlines they show you. Please choose the sentence that best describes your experience with this technology.

I do not use any personalized online news services.
I use one personalized news service.
I use multiple personalized news services.

Photo Sharing: Please choose the sentence that best describes you.

I have never shared photos online.
I send or view photos with other people using email.
I share photos online using a photo album website such as Flickr, Facebook, or Shutterbug.
I both email photos to others and use an online album.

Podcasts: Please choose the sentence that best describes you.

I have never heard of a podcast.
I know what a podcast is, but have never used one.
I occasionally have viewed or listened to a podcast.
I use podcasts often.

How many hours in an average week do you spend doing the following (Please include time spent both at home and at work or school)?

Hours spent talking on your phone or cell phone while watching TV:

Hours spent reading printed paper newspapers or magazines while watching TV:

Hours spent using the Internet while watching TV:

Hours spent talking on a phone or cell phone while using the Internet:

Hours spent listening to an iPod or another mp3 player while using the internet:

Hours spent talking on the phone or cell phone while trying to read newspapers or magazines:

Hours spent listening to an iPod or other mp3 player while trying to read printed paper newspapers or magazines:

If you have a PDA or other electronic organizer, how much time do you spend using it while not connected to the internet?

Where do you read magazines and newspapers the most ?

I never read magazines
While traveling or commuting
Sitting at home
While at work
Waiting rooms
While eating

If you have a favorite magazine, please enter it in here:

Which of the following do you consider the most important part of magazines?

Submissions from the readers such as letters, photos, or art
Games and puzzles
Quizzes or tests
Written articles
Pictures
Other