Britain Embraces Interactive Technology

Over half of the British adult population, or around 25 million people, now use interactive technologies including digital TVs, PCs and WAP phones, an increase of 6% on April 2001, according to a report by MORI.

The research shows that the number of people with access to digital TV has grown by around a million in the last six months to 15 million or 34% of the British adult population. According to MORI, this had led to a growth in internet usage with 42% of adults accessing the internet for personal use, an increase of 9% on April 2001.

MORI predicts that the use of interactive technologies will “increase rapidly” with 14% of the population saying that they plan to connect to the net via digital TVs, PCs or WAP phones within the next two years.

Mark Narrow, chief operating officer of online bank, Egg, which commissioned the research, said: “Consumers have developed a liking for the value and flexibility that digital technology affords them and are becoming increasingly confident in the possibilities of using the internet.”

According to the report, the Midlands is the region with the highest proportion of people with access to interactive technologies and Scotland is predicted to be the next “growth hotspot” with 17% of Scots saying they will start accessing the internet within two years.

MORI: 0207 347 3000 www.mori.co.uk

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