The Mindful Survey: Technically Speaking

Of the following, which personal tech devices do you use on a daily basis:

• MP3 Player 4%
• Desktop Computer 37%
• Tablet 38%
• Laptop Computer 50%
• TV 51%
• Smartphone 91%

 

Of the following, what do you most often use a smartphone for:

• Gaming 1%
• Other 7%
• Phone calls 12%
• Social media 18%
• Browsing the internet 19%
• Texting 44%

What role does technology play in your life?

30% Say it’s crucial, while 26% say technology is a “necessary evil.” Another 21% admit it’s an impressive feat of human intelligence, 11% could take or leave it, 8% think it’s responsible for making us all more stupid, and 4% consider it a huge burden.

Have you ever experienced tech withdrawal?

What is your favorite thing about personal technology?

• “Education.”
• “Information at my fingertips.”
• “Ability to keep in touch with family and friends overseas.”
• “Google Maps.”
• “Reading good books and long articles.”
• “Distraction.”
• “Podcasts.”
• “It helps my creativity—I make music and art on it.”
• “Turning it off.”
• “Solves problems.”
• “Saving time.”
• “Social media.”
• “The ease of getting things done.”
• “Constant availability.”
• “The ability to send a thought now.”

Do you consider yourself to be:

• A tech native 10%
• Pretty competent with technology 72%
• Befuddled by all these gadgets! 15%
• Rather averse to technology 3%

When you have a question about a personal technology device, what do you do?

• 51% Scour the web for a solution
• 25% consult a family member
• 20% say they can usually figure it out for themselves
• and 4% will go to an IT person

Have you ever dropped your mobile phone in the toilet?

What bugs you the most about personal technology?

• “The time it takes to sort and delete email.”
• “Keyboards.”
• “Too many notifications.
• “Technology could be genuinely helpful, but too many companies are fighting for our attention.”
• “Invasion of privacy.”
• “It interrupts actual personal connection.”
• “Staring at a screen all the time.”
• “Expectation of being available 24/7.”
• “Upgrades.” “
• “It’s so damn easy.”
•  “Time suck.”
• “Ads. Autoplay video content.”
•  “The way it lures you away from present experience.”

If technology were your romantic partner, how would you describe your relationship?

• “Ambivalent.”
• “Seductive,emotionally volatile, supportive except when it’s not.”
• “I call my wife’s phone her ‘boyfriend.’”
• “Manipulative.” “
• Unhealthy. Very unhealthy.”
• “Controlling and addictive but something I can’t do without.”
• “Reluctant partners.”
• “Too submissive.”
• “We don’t sleep together.”
• “Friend with benefits.”
• “Cozy.”
• “I am tortured, but I can’t leave!”
• “Draining.”
• “We love and hate each other—both very tenderly.”
•  “It’s there when I need it—and, unfortunately, when I don’t.”
• “Tumultuous.”
• “Unbalanced.”
• “Joined at the hip.”
• “Abusive!”
• “Can’t get enough of each other.”
• “Tempestuous. Exciting yet burdensome.”
• “Toxic.”

Most popular answer:

It’s a love/hate relationship.

This article appeared in the August 2017 issue of Mindful magazine.

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