Student Smartphone Survey - Winter 2011

Survey Interpretation
Survey Text
Survey Results
Other Surveys

Survey Interpretation

Computer Lab Management (CLM) is investigating how the increasing use and capabilities of Smartphones (for example iPhone, Android, Blackberry,or other phones that can check email and surf the web) will affect how clients can interact with our services. The survey reports that 60.3% of students own a Smartphone. This is a large jump from the 43.2% ownership rate from the smartphone survey in Winter 2009. The percentage ownership of smartphone will grow over time as students replace older phones with Smartphones. It also appears that SmartPhones will be used for an increasing amount of students' computing needs.

However, in the general student survey in Winter 2011 only 34.9% of students reported the owned a smartphone. It's not clear what caused the large variance in response between the two surveys. Perhaps students who own Smartphones are really excited about them and therefore respond to a Smartphone survey at a higher rate than a general survey.

The survey shows that Smartphones are used heavily for making phones calls, checking email, viewing non-class web pages, and texting/IMing. They are used less often for viewing class-related web pages, reading documents, connecting to Moobilenet, and listening to non-class podcasts/music. They are rarely used for taking notes in class, listening to class podcast, or recording lectures. So overall Smartphones are used more for personal computing rather than class-related computing.

37.5% of students reported that owning a smartphone made them less likely to bring their laptop, tablet, or netbook to campus. The smaller/lighter form factor, ability to check email and the web, and the fact that students need a cell phone anyhow appear to be the main factors driving the change in behavior.
However, the majority (61.7%) said that owning a smartphone didn't affect the liklihood of bringing their laptop to campus. Many of the comments indicate that students need their laptops to take notes.

Overall we expect that as Smartphone ownership continues to increase there will be a continuing decrease in in the number and/or frequency of students bringing laptops to campus. Except for the keyboard limitations we believe Smartphones could be 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 smartphones.
Other possible improvements that would address limitations identified in this survey be compact bluetooth keyboards so smartphones could be used to take notes in class and printing capabilities.

31.7% of students also reported that owning a smartphone made them use the computer labs less often. For the majority (62.5%) owning a smartphone didn't impact lab usage. It appears many students use their smartphones to check email and the web, but go to computer labs to print or when they need to do a lot of typing.

Survey Text

On March 1st, 2011 Computer Lab Management (CLM) sent the following survey 2000 students who had uses the campus computer rooms during Winter 2011.

We are investigating how the increasing use and capabilities of smartphones 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.

Name (optional):
E-mail Address (optional):

1. Class Standing:

2. What types of computers do you own? (check all that apply)

I own a desktop computer
I own a laptop (notebook) computer
I own a tablet (iPad, Windows tablet) computer
I own an netbook computer
I do not own a computer

3. Do you own a smartphone (for example iPhone, Android, Blackberry or other phone that can check email and surf the web)?

4. How often do you use your smartphone to:

Make phone calls

Check email

View class related web pages (SmartSite, etc)

View other web pages (non-class related)

Texting or Instant messaging

Read class related PDF, Word or other documents

Connect to Moobilenet (UCDavis wireless network)

Take notes in class

Listen to class related podcasts

Listen to non-class podcasts or other music

Record lectures (audio)

Other - please specify:

5. How does owning a smartphone affect the likelihood of you bringing your laptop, tablet, or netbook to campus?

Please explain your reason:

6. Does owning a smartphone change how often you use a computer lab?

Please explain your reason:

Survey Results

There were 199 responses.

Question 1. Class Standing

	Number	Percentage
First year	15	7.5%
Second year	32	16.1%
Third year	57	28.6%
Fourth year	63	31.7%
Fifth or more year	14	7.0%
Masters candidate	4	2.0%
PhD candidate	8	4.0%
Professional School	1	0.5%
No answer	4	2.0%

Question 2. What types of computers do you own?

	Number	Percentage
Desktop	43	21.6%
Laptop	181	91.0%
Tablet	10	5.0%
Netbook	28	14.1%
None	1	0.5%

Question 3. Do you own a SmartPhone (for example iPhone, Android, Blackberry or other phone that can check email and surf the web)?

	Number	Percentage
Yes	120	60.3%
No	75	37.7%

Question 4. How often do you use your Smart Phone to:

The percentages listed below are of the 120 students who own a Samrt phone.

Make phone calls

	Number	Percentage
Multiple times daily	66	55.0%
Daily	33	27.5%
Few times a week	16	13.7%
Weekly	3	2.5%
Rarely	2	1.7%
Never	4	3.3%

Check email

	Number	Percentage
Multiple times daily	75	62.5%
Daily	23	19.2%
Few times a week	9	7.5%
Weekly	2	1.7%
Rarely	8	6.7%
Never	6	5.0%

View class related web pages

	Number	Percentage
Multiple times daily	27	22.5%
Daily	25	20.8%
Few times a week	31	25.8%
Weekly	8	6.7%
Rarely	20	16.7%
Never	10	8.3%

View other web pages (non-class related)

	Number	Percentage
Multiple times daily	50	41.7%
Daily	27	22.5%
Few times a week	25	20.8%
Weekly	6	5.0%
Rarely	10	8.3%
Never	4	3.3%

Texting or Instant messaging

	Number	Percentage
Multiple times daily	102	85.0%
Daily	13	10.8%
Few times a week	0	0%
Weekly	1	0.8%
Rarely	1	0.8%
Never	3	2.5%

Read class related PDF, Word or other documents

	Number	Percentage
Multiple times daily	18	15.0%
Daily	17	14.2%
Few times a week	28	23.3%
Weekly	12	10.0%
Rarely	28	23.3%
Never	19	15.8%

Connect to Moobilenet (UCDavis wireless network)

	Number	Percentage
Multiple times daily	34	28.3%
Daily	15	12.5%
Few times a week	23	19.2%
Weekly	2	1.7%
Rarely	23	19.2%
Never	25	20.8%

Take notes in class

	Number	Percentage
Multiple times daily	1	0.8%
Daily	2	1.7%
Few times a week	4	3.3%
Weekly	1	0.8%
Rarely	29	24.2%
Never	84	70.0%

Listen to class related podcasts

	Number	Percentage
Multiple times daily	4	3.3%
Daily	1	0.8%
Few times a week	4	3.3%
Weekly	6	5.0%
Rarely	27	22.5%
Never	79	65.8%

Listen to non-class podcasts or other music

	Number	Percentage
Multiple times daily	32	26.7%
Daily	15	12.5%
Few times a week	16	13.3%
Weekly	14	11.7%
Rarely	18	15.0%
Never	26	21.7%

Record lectures (audio)

	Number	Percentage
Multiple times daily	4	3.3%
Daily	1	0.8%
Few times a week	8	6.7%
Weekly	5	4.2%
Rarely	25	20.8
Never	76	63.3%

Other reasons given:

Daily Planner/ organization
Games
GPS
I only use labs to print, and my phone doesn't change that.
Listen to music
Play games in class
play video games
Puzzle Gaming

Question 5. How does owning a smartphone affect the likelihood of you bringing your laptop, tablet, or netbook to campus?

	Number	Percentage
More likely	3	2.5%
Less likely	45	37.5%
About the same	74	61.7%

Reasons given:

More likely
- I use my laptop to charge my phone. Also, upon seeing emails and needing to do something I can't on my phone, it may increase the likelihood of me needing to use my computer.
Less likely
- I can access smartsite using my phone, so i don't need a computer
- if i had internet on my smartphone, i would be able to access class information without my laptop, which would limit my use of a laptop on campus. i wouldn't bring my laptop to campus as often.
- More convenient
- I can check my email but in a way that is less distracting because the interface is more difficult and there aren't chatting capacities yet, or at least I don't have them
- Can do almost everything on my smartphone so no need to carry around a laptop.
- basically because i have access to the web in my phone, so i dont need to carry my laptop.
- Laptops are bulky.
- I never bring my laptop because it is so heavy to lug around. My smartphone is more compact.
- Weight.
- Its easier and more convenient to carry.
- I have my email, reminders, etc with me
- Usually bring laptop when I need to check important email. but smartphone does that for me
- Depending on what I need for that day, it will vary between the two. Taking notes is still easier on a laptop/netbook than a smartphone.
- I can put podcasts in my phone and listen to them through there. I can also do research and search things that I am curious about through the web on my phone. A laptop is heavy to lug around everywhere. For convenience and ease of travel, I have been bringing my laptop less and less to school and increasing my dependence on my smartphone.
- Although I do not take notes using my phone, I can record the lectures and go back and listen to it later. I do not have to carry around my netbook or worry about my battery dying or having to recharge my laptop. My phone is compact and the battery life is longer than one 2 hour lecture.
- will not bring it unless i need to type out a paper
- Don't need pc to surf web if I have iphone with me.
- Can check e-mail, and view course materials online
- My mobile device allows me to do many of the functions of my laptop. This means I only carry my laptop when I need it for bigger projects like typing papers or profound PowerPoint presentations.
- It is lighter and I have almost the same function
- I can check web pages without having a heavy computer with me (or having to go to a computer lab)
- Only slightly, though. A smartphone doesn't allow me to take notes the way a laptop/tablet does, The only purposes it serves on campus are checking email and looking things up (occasionally). I might look things up more if Smartsite played nice with Android - for some reason PDF downloads never seem to work.
- My computer needs to be constantly plugged in a needs a fan. If i just bring my cell phone I can conveniently look something up on the internet without lugging my laptop and accessories all day long.
- With a smartphone I don't need to open my laptop to check internet related stuff
- My smartphone allows me to check my e-mail and perform other tasks and keep in correspondence with others much easier, so I do not need to bring my laptop to campus.
- I like taking notes by hand and if i need to check the internet for something i will use my phone.
- Have no need for a laptop since I have a phone that does everything.
- i dont bring my laptop its too big
- Since I can look up information on my phone, I would not need a laptop. However, if I need to type I would still bring my laptop.
- If I can do certain things on my phone, I do not bring my laptop.
- I never bring laptop to school, because it's heavy, there is potential risk of damage and the computer is buggy.
- I can use my smartphone to do a lot of the things I would need a laptop for, so since I always have my smartphone with me, it is less likely for me to need to bring my laptop to campus.
- I have always hand written notes in class. I would have my computer with me to go on facebook or surf the web during breaks in the day but with my Droid I can do this just as well.
- The only time i need my computer is if I need to do extensive research on the internet. Otherwise, I can use my phone to look up my assignments without having to bring a heavy computer
Doesn't change liklihood
- My phone is tiny in comparison to my laptop. It is complicated to get it to load web pages.
- Smartphones hardly replace the functionality of a laptop. In particular, typing on smartphones is much slower than a full-size keyboard.
- Doesn't because I have an older version of a blackberry (had it for almost two years) and it doesn't have the internet browsing capabilities that the newer phones have.
- I never carry computers to class, I prefer handwritten notes.
- Phones still have limitations.
- I prefer taking notes by hand.
- Smartphones are good to use in class to review smartsite pages and assignments but I like to use my laptop in the library
- Can't look at downloaded files off of smartsite on my phone with HTC android devices. Used to work but you guys changed something or HTC changed something.. Doesn't work anymore! Really sad since it made life easy being able to download stuff off of SmartSite.
- I use my laptop and my phone for different things, I usually don't work on my smartphone.
- I carry my phone with me at all times, and bring my laptop for classes where I need my laptop. When I bring my laptop is completely independent of whether or not I bring my phone.
- My phone is a smartphone, ya, but it doesn't have a data plan attached to it, so I am restricted to slow wifi (because it's an older model), so I'd bring my laptop anyway. I actually usually use my iPod Touch for internet on the go, phone for texting, and laptop for everything else.
- I don't use a laptop to take notes anyway, and being a freshman i live close enough to campus that if i see something important come up on my phone, i can just go back to the dorm and check. However, for whatever reason my smartphone cannot download PDF's from sisweb, so if i need to see a file during class i bring my laptop.
- I still need my laptop, regardless of owning a smartphone.
- Being a grad student, I bring my laptop no matter what to do work
- I would bring my laptop to take notes and I do not take notes on my blackberry so my reasons for using each item are unrelated.
- I use my phone to quickly check email and grades on SmartSite (which, by the way, would be much easier to do if it had a mobile version). Also, since connecting to the UCD network (moobilnet) can be a nightmare through my iPhone, a computer is a must.
- I still need my laptop to do real work, like LaTeX or programming.
- My phone doesn't connect to moobilenet for some reason. Also it is not comfortable to type on, and has a small screen. It is not practical for mo than basic email and quick Google searches
- I don't take notes on my phone, so it in no way affects how likely it is that I will bring my computer to class.
- A laptop has certain uses that a phone does not. When I need my laptop I bring it, and that's that.
- I dont take notes on my phone so i dont need it in class
- I can take notes in my notebook, and everything else that I need to access on the internet can be done on my phone.
- I have word on my phone but i prefer taking notes on my mac
- My laptop is on life support - functionally a desktop computer with attached external monitor, mouse, and keyboard. It never comes to campus anyways.
- it is hard to write on the iphone
- I treat a smartphone as a telephone with more capabilities rather than a replacement of my computers.
- I still carry my laptop because my iPod touch screen is still a bit small and I use my laptop to type notes.
- because usually a laptop I take it to campus to work on word, excel or so on and the iphone cannot replace my laptop in that sense.
- I don't bring my laptop very often anyways. And I don't usually use my phone other than calling or texting. I am usually only on campus for class, and I take notes by hand. If I need a computer I will use one in the computer lab.
- I bring my laptop to class most days regardless if I have my phone or not.
- can't use my phone to take notes, and webpages load slower compare to laptop.
- Smartphone is for mainly phone calls and texting use. Laptop to campus is for taking notes, doing papers, research, etc.
- I like seeing full websites versus mobile websites.
- My smartphone is not used to take notes and not used for school purposes, therefore, it has no affect on my choice to bring my laptop to campus.
- Smartphone isn't as fast and most school related sites don't have mobile sites for my Blackberry and its small screen.
- I have an old blackberry that can only check email. I would use my phone to check school related web content but the service is too slow and takes minutes to download anything. It ends up being faster to just walk to the nearest computer lab and use a computer. Or if I bring my laptop I can connect to mobilenetx network and am good to go anywhere on campus.
- I need my laptop to take notes.
- I have my laptop to take notes, do assignments, etc. Phone is for easier access to emails, texting, calls, etc.
- My smartphone is useful only for accessing the internet in emergencies (transferring funds in my bank account, checking what room my classes are at the beginning of the quarter), but it has not affected how often I bring my computer (which is rarely to begin with)
- I still need my laptop to take notes, write papers, etc.
- Smartphone has too slow of a browser to do anything productive on.
- I still bring my netbook to campus.
- Although I love my Droid, it doesn't have the same space to type that my laptop does.
- I'd just bring my laptop
- I like to take notes on my laptop.
- I take all of my notes by hand; I do not use my Blackberry or laptop. I do, however, bring my laptop on occasion when I need to work in the library. Typically this involves spreadsheets or writing code, neither of which could be done on my Blackberry.
- I always carry both of these items.
- I take notes with pen and paper. I feel like if I brought my computer to class, I will be more likely to use it to go on facebook or or other unrelated sites. I mainly use my phone for school to record lectures and listen to them outside of class.
- I don't use my computer to take notes.

Question 6. Does owning a smartphone change how often you use a computer lab?

	Number	Percentage
Use computer labs more often	7	4.8%
Use computer labs less often	38	31.7%
Use computer labs about the same	75	62.5%