Survey: Already Addicted to Tablet Computers?
A study conducted by Staples Advantage reveals that 35 percent of those surveyed have used their tablet computers while in the bathroom. The increased mobility of today's portable devices has made it easy for people to take their technology with them wherever they may go, even into the most private of places.
The survey suggests that tablets are helping people to maintain a better work/life balance. Sixty percent of those surveyed say tablets helped them increase productivity. And though there are a number of reasons a person might use a tablet (to check emails, entertainment purposes, to view documents), over 90 percent of those interviewed said that their biggest reason for owning a tablet device was its portability.
In addition to those who use their tablets in the bathroom, 78 percent said that they've used them in bed and 30 percent said they've used them in a restaurant.
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"Tablets offer fantastic convenience and a better work/life balance, making it easy for employees to keep information with them and utilize business apps, no matter where they go,” said Ed Ludwigson, vice president and general manager for Staples Technology Solutions. “For employers, the benefit is having a more productive workforce that's always connected to what's happening at the office.”
But is that such a good thing? Being always connected to work means no breaks from it.
That's why Kenny Hibbard, lead pastor of Team Church in Matthews, N.C., decided to challenge his church with a one-week “technology and entertainment fast.”
Last summer Hibbard and his team asked themselves the question, “Besides food, what is something that is maybe not inherently evil, but controls our lives ... that we could challenge people to get away from to have kind of a spiritual experience, spiritual fast."
The answer was technology.
He challenged the members of Team Church to give up technology (except for while they were at work) for one week, asking that they use the time that they're usually connected to machines to get connected to God and to their families.
The members of his congregation who participated spent time in prayer, meditation and reading their Bibles. Couples talked more and went on walks together. Families spent time together with activities like playing board games.
"Back when there wasn't things you could do by yourself, you were forced to do things together," Hibbard told The Christian Post on Tuesday.
According to the Staples Advantage report, over 60 percent of those surveyed admit to using their tablet for work purposes while they were on vacation.
Hibbard, who takes a full two-week vacation every year in which he “disconnects” from his church, understands that some people need to stay connected to work but says that many do it because they get an ego-boost from showing others how hard they work.
"If you can't leave without the place collapsing, then you're probably not doing a good job anyway," he said.
He also clarified his reasons behind choosing technology as the object of a fast for his church.
"In a sense we weren't saying it was evil or bad, but we were definitely saying it's overdone and controls us probably more than it should, and so let's take out some good things so we can focus on the best thing.”
