Student Smart Phone Survey - Winter 2009
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Survey Interpretation
Computer Lab Management (CLM) is investigating how the increasing use and capabilities of Smart Phones (for example iPhone, Blackberry, Samsung Instinct, Palm Treo, etc.) will affect how clients can interact with our services. 43% of the respondents owned a Smart Phone. The percentage will likely grow over time as adivanced features are added to more phones. We expect that over time Smart Phones will be used for an increasing amount of students' computing needs.
The survey shows that Smart phones are used heavily for making phones calls, checking email, viewing web pages, and texting/IMing. They are used less often for reading documents, connecting to Moobilenet, and listening to music. They are rarely used for taking notes in class, listening to class podcast, or recording lectures.
It appears that Smart phone use will reduce the likelihood that students will bring their laptops to campus. The smaller form factor and the fact that students need a cell phone anyhow appear to be driving this change. Therefore, we expect that as Smart phones ownership increases there will be a drop in students bringing laptops to campus. The ever increasing capabilities of Smart phones will make them viable laptop replacements in a few years.
This trend would be accelerated and supported by ensuring campus applications (SmartSite, MyUCDavis, Moobilenet, etc) worked well with Smart Phones. Other possible improvements would be compact bluetooth keyboards so Smart phones could be used to take notes in class and printing capabilities.
Survey Text
We are investigating how the increasing use and capabilities of Smart Phones will affect how clients can interact with our services. Your feedback helps us understand, evaluate, and improve the services we offer UC Davis students. We appreciate your time and input.
Survey Results
Question 1. Class Standing
| Number | Percentage | |
| First year | 17 | 14.4% |
| Second year | 19 | 16.1% |
| Third year | 35 | 29.7% |
| Fourth year | 31 | 26.3% |
| Fifth or more year | 5 | 4.2% |
| Masters candidate | 3 | 2.5% |
| PhD candidate | 5 | 4.2% |
| Professional School | 0 | 0% |
| No answer | 3 | 2.5% |
Question 2. What types of computers do you own?
| Number | Percentage | |
| Desktop | 38 | 32.2% |
| Laptop | 107 | 90.7% |
| Tablet-PC | 4 | 3.4% |
| Ultra-Mobile PC/Netbook | 6 | 5.1% |
| None | 3 | 2.5% |
Question 3. Do you own a SmartPhone (for example iPhone, Blackberry, Samsung Instinct, Palm Treo, etc)?
| Number | Percentage | |
| Yes | 51 | 43.2% |
| No | 67 | 56.8% |
Question 4. How often do you use your Smart Phone to:
The percentages listed below are of the 51 students who own a Samrt phone.
Make phone calls
| Number | Percentage | |
| Daily | 44 | 86.3% |
| Few times a week | 7 | 13.7% |
| Weekly | 0 | 0% |
| Rarely | 0 | 0% |
| Never | 0 | 0% |
Check email
| Number | Percentage | |
| Daily | 32 | 62.7% |
| Few times a week | 6 | 11.8% |
| Weekly | 2 | 3.9% |
| Rarely | 4 | 7.8% |
| Never | 6 | 11.8% |
View web pages
| Number | Percentage | |
| Daily | 27 | 52.9% |
| Few times a week | 15 | 29.4% |
| Weekly | 0 | 0% |
| Rarely | 4 | 7.8% |
| Never | 5 | 9.8% |
Texting or Instant messaging
| Number | Percentage | |
| Daily | 43 | 84.3% |
| Few times a week | 5 | 9.8% |
| Weekly | 0 | 0% |
| Rarely | 3 | 5.9% |
| Never | 0 | 0% |
Read class related PDF, Word or other documents
| Number | Percentage | |
| Daily | 4 | 7.8% |
| Few times a week | 16 | 31.4% |
| Weekly | 11 | 21.6% |
| Rarely | 6 | 11.8% |
| Never | 14 | 27.5% |
Connect to Moobilenet (UCDavis wireless network)
| Number | Percentage | |
| Daily | 16 | 31.4% |
| Few times a week | 3 | 5.9% |
| Weekly | 5 | 9.8% |
| Rarely | 6 | 11.8% |
| Never | 19 | 37.3% |
Take notes in class
| Number | Percentage | |
| Daily | 2 | 3.9% |
| Few times a week | 1 | 2.0% |
| Weekly | 3 | 5.9% |
| Rarely | 13 | 25.5% |
| Never | 32 | 62.7% |
Listen to class related podcasts
| Number | Percentage | |
| Daily | 0 | 0% |
| Few times a week | 1 | 2.0% |
| Weekly | 0 | 0% |
| Rarely | 18 | 35.3% |
| Never | 32 | 62.7% |
Listen to non-class podcasts or other music
| Number | Percentage | |
| Daily | 18 | 35.3% |
| Few times a week | 8 | 15.7% |
| Weekly | 5 | 9.8% |
| Rarely | 11 | 21.6% |
| Never | 8 | 15.7% |
Record lectures (audio)
| Number | Percentage | |
| Daily | 1 | 2.0% |
| Few times a week | 0 | 0% |
| Weekly | 2 | 3.9% |
| Rarely | 10 | 19.6% |
| Never | 38 | 74.5% |
Other
| Number | Percentage | |
| Daily | 7 | 13.7% |
| Few times a week | 1 | 2.0% |
| Weekly | 0 | 0% |
| Rarely | 0 | 0% |
| Never | 0 | 0% |
Other reasons given:
- Daily
- GPS, Stocks, Weather, Etc.
- take pictures
- Check Schedule/ Agenda
- use apps, facebook, aim, camera, games (iphone)
- Applications/games
- games
- Few times a week
- games
Question 5. How does owning a Smart Phone affect the likelihood of you bringing your laptop, TabletPC, or netbook to campus?
| Number | Percentage | |
| More likely | 4 | 7.8% |
| Less likely | 21 | 41.2% |
| About the same | 25 | 49.0% |
| N/A since I don't own a laptop/TablePC/netbook | 2 | 3.9% |
Reasons given:
- More likely
- Laptops don't incur fees for using internet. If I'm taking notes or have a presentation, a laptop is a better choice than my Blackberry (the service is really expensive).
- I have a iphone and a macbook pro, so if i need my laptop to just check email, i would not really need to use it because my phone can do so.
- Less likely
- When i am able to take notes on my smart phone its not necessary to take a laptop because my phone does it all
- The smartphone handles many tasks previously handled exclusively by my laptop. The smaller form factor makes it preferable.
- smart phone is easier
- Most simple functions can be done with the smart phone.
- Laptops are heavy and bulky and hard to carry around. If you have one with you, you have to guard it against theft. An iPhone is much more convenient, very light, and fits in my pocket. I also have computers at home and in my lab, so I don't need a laptop with me. If I did not, I might get a laptop.
- internets
- I'll bring my laptop to class to take notes but I don't have it with me at all times since I can access the internet from my Blackberry.
- If I have access to all the features that I can do on my laptop, there would be no reason to bring my laptop. An iPhone app that had all the major features of myucdavis would be simply amazing.
- I prefer to use my laptop to use for lecture notes and not my Iphone, it has notreally crossed my mind to use as a device to record lecture notes or takes notes in general.
- I own an Asus EEE PC (netbook) and used to bring it to campus just to check my email, browse, instant message, and maybe work on a few word documents. Now with the iPhone I rarely bring my EEE PC unless I need to work on word documents on campus.
- I have a Desktop since I'm a gamer, so I use that the most. I got a netbook over a year ago, but I almost never use it anymore, ever since I got my iPhone last summer. Also, if I actually took notes in class, then I might use my iPhone to do so, but I absolutely do not take notes. I have a 3.8 GPA, but I've never needed to take notes, so sue me. :)
- I can access internet and play music without bringing my bulky laptop to campus. Any quick notes can be taken and sent to my email to have for later on my iphone as well so I usually feel pretty secure with my phone on campus
- I bring my laptop if I need it, mostly I would leave it at home for fear of having both my laptop and my iphone stolen. Carrying around that much just in terms of sheer investments in technology.
- I am able to check emails off my phone rather than lugging my laptop to campus everyday. However, reception is not always great. I do not log onto moobilenet because of the password protection. it's very annoying having to log in to moobilenet off the smartphone. i am unable to retreive my mail before doing so, so i rather have my network provider's internet where i can let the email push to me rather than have to log on to moobilenet and check if i have any mail. (plus, saving moobilenet will make it automatically connect, which means i have to log on every time to use any data whatsoever)
- Can do a lot on it so I don't need the weight; but also if I didn't have it, I probably wouldn't go out of my way to do those extra things like check/ send email on campus anyways.
- A laptop is much easier to take notes in, and for many of my classes (heavily science) it is easier to take notes with regular pen and paper. Also, I have a Blackjack II which has internet capabilities but I cannot get to to connect to Moobilenet. If I could check my school email using my smartphone that would be a HUGE bonus! It works great for checking my email on aol.
- About the same
- My smartphone doesn't have a built in qwerty keyboard and I don't have a bluetooth keyboard to use in conjunction with it, so I still would bring a laptop to class.
- My smartphone does not let me connect to myucdavis/smartsite/etc. so I usually need to bring my computer anyways if I'm trying to work on an assignment.
- My iPhone is only good for checking email and doing quick things on the internet. So if those are the only activities I need for any given day on campus, then I definitely do not bring my laptop. However, if I need to take notes in class, have a presentation, or need a computer/web browser for any extended amount of time then having an iPhone does not effect the probability of me bringing my laptop to school.
- iPhone doesn't do everything and it's slower to use
- I use my phone just to talk or listen to music so it does not affect
- I use my laptop to do things that my phone cant do. The things that my phone can do I can do at the various computer labs. To check email or whatnot.
- I still bring both electronics with me to campus everyday. Sometimes, it would be more efficient to use the laptop. The Smart Phone serves making phone calls, and other communication purpose (e.g.: calling overseas through skype) majority of the time.
- I rarely use any of the features of my smartphone that would replace the need of my laptop.
- I prefer using a full size computer to do schoolwork. The small screen and keyboard make viewing certain web pages and taking notes difficult. Also, signing into 'my uc davis' is not possible on the blackberry, so it's pretty useless at school.
- i dont have the data plan for my smartphone and it is way too small for me to comfortably use it how i use my laptop
- I don't have a data plan and my smartphone doesn't have access to Wi-Fi.
- I do not use my phone for lecture notes therefore I bring my laptop
- I can't type fast enough on a phone to use it for notes.
- doesn't matter because I don't use my phone as a "computer"
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