Most People use Two Media Simultaneously at least some of the Time

More than 70% of consumers, at one time or another, use media simultaneously, according to a new survey. The Media Center and BIGresearch have produced the Simultaneous Media Usage Survey based on consulting 13,414 people in October 2003, which shows what combination of media people enjoy using together. Key findings include:
* Going online is the top simultaneous medium for radio listeners.
* Newspapers are the best companion for television watchers.
* Simultaneous usage continues to grow.

Radio
When listening, 57.3% simultaneously go online, 46.9% read newspapers and 17.7% watch TV. 51.2% of radio listening multitaskers say they pay more attention to one medium than the other.

TV
74.2% of people who watch TV regularly or occasionally read the newspaper. 66.2% say they go online and that documentaries are the preferred TV programming for those who watch TV and go online simultaneously. Documentaries lend themselves to listening, a popular choice for the simultaneous media using TV watchers. Movies are the preferred programming for people who read newspapers and also watch TV (64.3%) followed by police detective shows (56%) and sitcoms (51.5%.) Young people are watching less Tv altogether: 18-24 year olds (down 8.8%) and 25-34 year olds (down 12.2%), seeing an equivalent rise in video game playing.

Newspaper
Listening activities seem most agreeable to newspaper readers: 52.4% say they watch TV and 49.6% say they listen to the radio when reading the newspaper. More women (52.4%) than men (49.6%) prefer reading the newspaper and listening to the radio simultaneously.

Online
While waiting for pages to download, 52.1% say they simultaneously listen to the radio, while 61.8% say they watch TV and 20.2% are reading the newspaper.

Cell phone users spend more time on average each day online (internet, email, IM) than the general populace, 4 hours versus 3 hours for all.

All change at the top for System Concepts
Source: System Concepts Ltd, 3 July 2009
 
Leslie Fountain has been promoted to joint Managing Director of leading usability consultancy System Concepts.

Life in UCD immortalised in fiction: you couldn't make it up
Source: UN, 2 July 2009
 
Sarah Herman's fictitious book on life in a user-centred design company has hit the shelves and The Guardian's book pages...

Interfaces Magazine - Issue 79: The Education Issue
Source: Interaction Group, 1 July 2009
 
The latest issue of Interfaces is now available as a free download from the Interaction Website.

Two new Behavioural research Tools from Noldus
Source: UN, 30 June 2009
 
Tool updates make on-site behavioural data collection easier.

Cell Phones that Listen and Learn
Source: MIT Technology Review, 29 June 2009
 
New software tracks a user's behavior by monitoring everyday sounds.

Top Six Don’ts for Usability Testing
Source: FutureNow Inc., 27 June 2009
 
Six tips for creating quality usability tests to ensure useful feedback from testers.

Usability: ‘Lovely software. But I can’t work it’
Source: FT.com, 26 June 2009
 
In a recent survey by Global Graphics, 77 per cent of office workers estimate they lose up to one hour a week because business software is difficult to use.

And what do you do?
Source: Dexo Design, 25 June 2009
 
How do you describe your job role? Here are the results of a recent 'Preferred UX/UI Title' Poll.

Most Doctors cite Usability as critical to Electronic Health Record Adoption
Source: TMCNet, 24 June 2009
 
It's all about 'meaningful use'.

Glossy monitors look good but can hurt
Source: QUT, 23 June 2009
 
A new advisory cites research which suggests high gloss monitors make users sit awkwardly.