Smartphones Are Making Everyone a Real-Time Expert
Having access to all of the information available on the Internet — in the palm of your hand — is making you a better problem solver, according to the Pew Internet & American Life project.
The research organization recently released a report documenting users’ real-time, information-based behaviors, and 35 percent of respondents said that they had used their smartphones to solve an unexpected problem in the past 30 days.
More important, for retailers and restaurants: Thirty percent of respondents said they used their phones to decide whether or not to visit a business. That’s a trend that many businesses can’t afford to ignore.
According to the Pew study, respondents put their smartphones to use in myriad ways:
- 41 percent have coordinated a meeting or get-together.
- 35 percent have solved an unexpected problem.
- 27 percent have found information to settle an argument.
- 23 percent have looked up the score of a sporting event.
- 20 percent have searched for up-to-the-minute traffic or public transit info.
- 19 percent have sought help in an emergency situation.
Guess our smartphones are called “smart” for a reason.
Has real-time access to information on your smartphone gotten you out of a bind?