June 29, 2006

U.S. Families Stay Wired Even While On Vacation, According to InsightExpress Study

An InsightExpress study found that the majority of people (57%) stay "wired" while on vacation, describing their families as either "gadget gurus" or "moderately wired" during trips. And although younger generations are often thought to be most familiar with and dependent on technology, this is not the case when it comes to family get-aways. In fact, only 7% of respondents said that "love of technology is just a kid thing" while on the road.

In this age of connectivity, it's not surprising that 63% of all respondents and a full 75% of the "wired vacationers" own three or more electronic devices. The top three devices that will make it into suitcases this summer are cell phones (85%), digital cameras (75%) and portable CD players (35%). Portable gaming devices narrowly missed the top three, with 33% bringing one along.

For many, today's family vacation does not include a break from the Internet. One third of the "wired vacationers" plan to go online at some point for work, play or both. The majority (87%) will check personal email, but 36% plan to log in for professional reasons.

"As technology continues to creep into every aspect of our lives, it's clearly becoming harder for Americans to take a vacation without it," said Kevin Kruper, Group Director of the Technology Sector at InsightExpress. "While some vacation purists might balk at the idea of packing a charger in their carry-on, the reality is that Americans embrace technology because it makes their lives easier. And since the point of most vacations is to relax and have fun, it makes a lot of sense for families to incorporate their favorite devices into travel plans."

The online study was conducted from June 15th through June 22nd among 530 adults aged 18+, with at least one child 18 years or younger. All respondents indicated that they were extremely likely or somewhat likely to take a family vacation this summer.

About InsightExpress
InsightExpress is an acknowledged pioneer of rapid turnaround, high-quality, online marketing research services. With its patented technology, market research expertise, and access to more than 100 million online individuals, InsightExpress enables its clients to easily harness market research to make the right business decision in real-time. The Company is headquartered in Stamford, CT, and maintains offices in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco. InsightExpress is affiliated with General Atlantic LLC. Visit us on the Web at www.insightexpress.com or call 203-406-3233.