1. The State of Mobile America
Lee Rainie, Director, Pew Internet Project
3.16.12
NFAIS – Philadelphia / webinar
Email: Lrainie@pewinternet.org
Twitter: @Lrainie
PewInternet.org

2. The Very Nature of Information Has Changed
Information
Information is…
was…
Scarce All around us
Expensive Cheap or free
Shaped and controlled by elites Shaped and controlled by
consumers and networks
Designed for one-way, mass
consumption Designed for sharing,
participation and feedback
Slow moving
Immediate
External to our worlds
Embedded in our worlds

3. What I think I know about the rise of
mobile learning
1. Mobile connectivity is changing social and
information spaces by enhancing/enabling …
– New access points to knowledge
– Real-time information sharing
– Just-in-time searches
– Perpetual, pervasive awareness of social
networks
– Augmented reality

4. What I think I know about the rise of
mobile learning
1.Ubiquitous small screens are
changing attention and media
zones (including text-based
media!)

5. What I think I know about the rise of
mobile learning
1.Mobile connectivity is
changing public and private
space/time continuum

6. What I think I know about the rise of
mobile learning
1.New kinds of learners are
emerging in the digital
environment

7. Information is Woven Into Our Lives
Mobile is the needle, Social Networks are the thread
Mobile… Social Networks…
Moves information with us Surround us with information
through our many
Makes information accessible connections
ANYTIME and ANYWHERE
Bring us information from
Puts information at our multiple, varied sources
fingertips
Provide instant feedback,
Magnifies the demand for meaning and context
timely information
Allow us to shape and create
Makes information location- information ourselves and
sensitive amplify others’ messages

8. Overall, if you had to use one single word to describe how you feel about your cell
phone, what would that one word be?

9. Mobile phones – 88% of adults
327.6
Total U.S.
population:
315.5
million
2011

10. Mobile is the Needle: 88% of US Adults Have a Cell Phone
% in each age group who have a cell phone
Teen data July 2011 Adult data Feb 2012

11. Changes in smartphone ownership

12. Smartphones – 46%

13. 56% of adults own laptops –
up from 30% in 2006
52% of adults own DVRs –
up from 3% in 2002
44% of adults own MP3 players –
up from 11% in 2005
42% of adults own game consoles
19% of adults own e-book readers - Kindle
19% of adults own tablet computer - iPad

16. Cell phones as connecting tools
% of cell owners
• 64% send photo or video
– Post video 25%
• 55% access social net. site
• 30% watch a video
• 11% have purchased a product
• 11% charitable donation by text
• 60% (of Twitter users) access
Twitter
2/22/2011 16

17. Apps – 50% of adults

18. Apps downloaders by age

19. Apps: From Superhighway to Bypass
Apps provide direct connections to information
Based on August 2011 Pew Internet Tracking Survey

20. Mobile health
• 17% of cell owners have used their phone to
look up health or medical information; 29% of
cell owners ages 18-29 have done such
searches.
• 9% of cell owners have software applications
or “apps” on their phones that help them
track or manage their health; 15% of those
ages 18-29 have such apps.

21. Mobile politics - 26% of adults used cell
phones for political purposes in 2010
• 14% used their cell phones to tell others that they voted
• 12% used their cell phones to keep up with political news
• 10% sent text messages relating to the election
• 6% used their cells to let others know about conditions at
their local voting stations on election day
• 4% used their phones to monitor results on election night
• 3% used their cells to shoot/share photos/videos about
election
• 1% used a cell-phone app that provided updates about
election news
• 1% contributed money by text message
Internet and Politics 3/9/2011 21

22. News and local news
All adults
84% own a cell
phone and/or
tablet computer
47% get local news
or information on
their cell phone or
tablet

23. Mobile local news topics

24. Instant action – Haiti earthquake donations

25. In-store purchasing decisions

26. How Phones Function In Our Lives
% of US adult cell owners who had done each of the following in the past 30 days…

27. Thank you!