Internet Access & Use: Internet Access & Use Compiled by: Sherry Biscope (September 2, 2003)


In the beginning…. : In the beginning…. “There is a great need for a computer communications network able to selectively connect any user to any service, quickly, reliabily and cheaply….” Science Council of Canada (August, 1971)


Evolution of the Internet: Evolution of the Internet Wave 1 – 20 years before it was widely used (1970’s) Text-based email Wave 2 – 15 years (1990’s) Emergence of WWW Wave 3 – 10 years till it’s as widely used as WWW Services and applications e.g.: health, education & government services being located on the Internet Source: CANARIE (2003). CANARIE Fast Track. 1(1). Accessed on July 16/03: http://www.canarie.ca/press/publications/fast_track_march2003.pdf


Pre-Internet in Canada: Pre-Internet in Canada Initial pressure from academic & military ARPAnet – 1983 (@ used in email) DREnet & NetNorth – 1985 (Canadian in origin) Grassroots movement (academic, residential, corporate, technical) Usenet (UUCPnet) - 1979 Even then chat was an issue! Source: CA*Net Institute (2003). A Nation Goes Online. Accessed on July 16/03: http://www.canarie.ca/press/publications/ango.pdf


Internet in Canada: Internet in Canada CA*Net – 1990 World Wide Web Proposal published in 1989 Storage & retrieval tool using hypertext & hypermedia Mosaic - 1993 Multi-media browser Source: CA*Net Institute (2003). A Nation Goes Online. Accessed on July 16/03: http://www.canarie.ca/press/publications/ango.pdf


Adoption Times for Technologies: Adoption Times for Technologies Source: Sciadas G (2003). Digital Divide in Canada.


Canadian Internet Data: Canadian Internet Data


Household Presence of Technologies: Household Presence of Technologies Source: Sciadas G (2003). Digital Divide in Canada.


General use of the Internet (2000): General use of the Internet (2000) Source: Dryburgh (2003). Changing our ways: Why and how Canadians are using the Internet.


Internet Non-users : Internet Non-users Most likely to be: Women Francophone Employed Living in households with incomes less than $60,000 Less likely to have a post-secondary education Less likely to use other technologies (fax machines, cell phone, ATM, answering machine, pager, cable TV, satellite dish, DVD) Source: Crompton, Ellison & Stevenson (2002). Better things to do or dealt out of the game? Internet dropouts and infrequent users. Canadian Social Trends (Summer 2002).


Internet Non-Users : Internet Non-Users 42% of adults have not used Internet 75% are 40+ years old 50% are women 22% of non-users are interested in learning to use Internet Barriers: cost, lack of access to a computer/Internet and not enough time Source: Crompton, Ellison & Stevenson (2002). Better things to do or dealt out of the game? Internet dropouts and infrequent users. Canadian Social Trends (Summer 2002).


Infrequent vs. Regular Internet Users: Infrequent vs. Regular Internet Users Source: Crompton, Ellison & Stevenson (2002). Better things to do or dealt out of the game? Internet dropouts and infrequent users. Canadian Social Trends (Summer 2002).


Reasons for not Using the Internet : Reasons for not Using the Internet 30% no need 17% too expensive 16% computer too old to support technology 14% lost access to a computer Source: Crompton, Ellison & Stevenson (2002). Better things to do or dealt out of the game? Internet dropouts and infrequent users. Canadian Social Trends (Summer 2002).


Use of Internet: Use of Internet


All Ages use of the Internet: All Ages use of the Internet Source: Statistics Canada (n.d.). Households using the Internet from home, by purpose of use. Accessed on July 16, 2003 at http://www.statcan.ca/english/Pgdb/arts52a.htm


Time Spent on the Internet: Time Spent on the Internet 61% use Internet 1–7 hours/week 14% use Internet for 14+ hours/week Source: Dryburgh (2003). Changing our ways: Why and how Canadians are using the Internet.


Socio-demographics of Internet Users : Socio-demographics of Internet Users Age, Sex, Income, Education and Geography


Age : Age Source: Sciadas G (2003). Digital Divide in Canada.


Age of Internet Users (2000): Age of Internet Users (2000) 90% 15-19 years old 70% 25-29 years old 61% 35-39 years old 13% 65-69 years old Source: Dryburgh (2003). Changing our ways: Why and how Canadians are using the Internet.


Teens Use of Internet: Teens Use of Internet 71% accessing information 60% electronic communication 52% word processing 48% gaming 32% learn school related material Source: Willmns & Corbett (2003). Tech and teens: Access and use. Canadian Social Trends (Summer 2003), 15-20.


Teen Access to Internet: Teen Access to Internet 99% used Internet 79% access at home Source: Environics Research Group (2001). Young Canadians in a Wired World: The Students’ View. What are youth doing online, and what do their parents need to know?.


When do Teens start using Internet?: When do Teens start using Internet?


Comparison of Teen Access at Home: Comparison of Teen Access at Home Source: Willmns & Corbett (2003). Tech and teens: Access and use. Canadian Social Trends (Summer 2003), 15-20.


Sex of Internet Users in 2000: Sex of Internet Users in 2000 56% men use the Internet 50% of women use the Internet Each age group is likely to have more male users than female Source: Dryburgh (2003). Changing our ways: Why and how Canadians are using the Internet.


Does Income affect Internet Access?: Does Income affect Internet Access? 32% Internet access (any location) for households with $23,000 or less 87% Internet access (any location) for households with $70,000 or more It becomes 23% and 76% for home access Source: Statistics Canada (n.d.). Internet use rates, by location of access and household income. Accessed on July 16, 2003 at http://www.statcan.ca/english/Pgdb/arts56a.htm


Does Education affect Internet Access?: Does Education affect Internet Access? 60% of all households have access 86% of households with a University degree have access 30% of households with less than high school have access Source: Statistics Canada (n.d.). Internet use rates, by location of access and education of head of household. Accessed on July 16, 2003 at http://www.statcan.ca/english/Pgdb/arts53a.htm


Impact of Education on Access: Impact of Education on Access Each additional year of parent’s education increases the likelihood of having a computer or Internet connection by: 18% of having a computer at home 15% of having Internet at home Source: Willmns & Corbett (2003). Tech and teens: Access and use. Canadian Social Trends (Summer 2003), 15-20.


Geography and the Internet: Geography and the Internet 54% of urban Census Metropolitan Areas (CMA) Canadians have Internet 42% of rural (non-CMA) Canadians have Internet Source: Sciadas G (2003). Digital Divide in Canada.


Internet Use Across Canada: Internet Use Across Canada Source: Dryburgh (2003). Changing our ways: Why and how Canadians are using the Internet.


Health and the Internet in Canada: Health and the Internet in Canada


Physicians Use of the Internet: Physicians Use of the Internet 89% of doctors use the Internet 57% have Internet access at the office/clinic 17% have a practice website Source: Pulse: MD’s office Internet use hits 57%. CMAJ;168(4) 475.


Practice-based Internet Use: Practice-based Internet Use 49% search Internet 46% use email 45% search MEDLINE 34% visit physician related websites 27% view patient orientated resources 25% conduct financial activities Source: Pulse: MD’s office Internet use hits 57%. CMAJ;168(4) 475.


Patient Related Use of Technology: Patient Related Use of Technology 37% occasionally refer patients to medical websites 46% occasionally have patients bring medical info obtained from Internet Source: Pulse: MD’s office Internet use hits 57%. CMAJ;168(4) 475.


Health and Internet: USA Data: Health and Internet: USA Data


Health Searches: Health Searches 80% of adult Internet users have searched for information on a major health topic 85% of women online have searched for health information (75% of men) Source: Pew Internet & American Life Project (2003). Internet Health Resources.


Health Topics : Health Topics 63% specific disease/medical problem 47% medical treatment or procedure 44% diet, nutrition, vitamin or nutrition 36% exercise or fitness 34% prescription or OTC drugs 10% sexual health Source: Pew Internet & American Life Project (2003). Internet Health Resources.


Finding Information: Finding Information


Searching Patterns: Searching Patterns 75% of Internet users use search engines 56% of Internet users don’t look through more than 2 pages of results from a search engine 32% read to the bottom of the 1st page 23% go beyond the 2nd page 8.7 look through more than 3 pages 52% always use the same search engine Source: CyberAtlas (2002). Internet Users Impatient with Search Results. Accessed on July 15, 2003 at http://www.nua.com/surveys/index.cgi?f=VS&art_id=905358569&rel=true


Searching in the Future (Canada): Searching in the Future (Canada) Currently, to buy something or gather information a person needs to complete a series of steps (use search engine, review sites, visit site, browse site, revise search terms, repeat until information of appropriate quality found) In future (Wave 3), these steps should be integrated, conducted in parallel and presented to the user as a complete "service". Source: Canada’s Innovation Strategy (2002). Sector Report: Using Networks For Innovation: A National Strategy For Canada. Accessed on July 16, 2003 at http://www.innovationstrategy.gc.ca/cmb/innovation.nsf/SectorReports/CANARIE#executive


Youth Internet Use (USA): Youth Internet Use (USA) 71% will use Internet for research vs. 24% using library sources 71% of youth still use phone to contact friends instead of Internet 41% say they have changed a health behaviour based on what they found online Source: Henry J. Kaiser Foundation (2002). Key Facts:Teens Online.


Internet-based Technologies (USA): Internet-based Technologies (USA) 90% of youth use email 74% of youth use instant messaging 56% of teens have more than 1 email address Source: Henry J. Kaiser Foundation (2002). Key Facts:Teens Online.


Filtering Software (USA): Filtering Software (USA) 76% of youth have filters on computers at their schools 46% of youth have had health information websites (non-pornographic sites) blocked by filtering software Source: Henry J. Kaiser Foundation (2002). Key Facts:Teens Online.


Trends in Canada: Trends in Canada Things to be wary of …..


Spam: Spam Inadvertently creating spam opportunities Emails that are bought from mailing lists Chat sessions Newsgroup postings Harvesting off of servers and websites Source: Co, M (2003). SPAM: Coming soon to an email box near you. CIN; 159,169.


Security: Security 65% of Canadians are concerned about security on the Internet (sharing personal data e.g.: shopping) 5% of Internet users have experienced problems with security Source: Dryburgh (2003). Changing our ways: Why and how Canadians are using the Internet.


Privacy: Privacy 61% of Canadians are concerned about privacy Source: Dryburgh (2003). Changing our ways: Why and how Canadians are using the Internet.