The Harris Poll
®
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
©2009 Harris Interactive, Inc. All rights reserved.
Consumers’ High Hopes for a High Tech Future
Consumers see advanced technology as stimulus to recovery and
prosperity
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – April 20, 2009 – When it comes to many of the challenges the
U.S. faces today, whether it is a stalled automobile industry, an ailing education system
or expensive medical costs, a majority of consumers believe advanced technology could
be the answer. Consumers are looking to technology to improve their lives and want
very practical applications to solve their current problems.
These are some of the results of The Harris Poll of 2,355 U.S. adults surveyed online
between March 9 and 16, 2009 by Harris Interactive.
With regard to the advanced technology, more specifically:
Almost three-quarters of Americans (73%) believe that investing in innovation
and advanced technology sciences in education is the key to the country’s long
term success;
Consumers also send a strong message to the U.S. automobile industry to invest
in hybrids and alternative fuels, as seven in ten Americans (71%) said not only
an investment but a leadership role in these technologies could mean survival for
our auto industry;
Seven in ten adults (71%) believe that travel costs for businesses could be cut if
technology such as video conferencing were better utilized; and,
Other ideas that are widely supported are the use of technology to produce
“green products and services” (67%) and to manage medical records and patient
care (67%).
Some practical applications of high tech
Advanced technology is particularly valuable when it is practical. Looking at several
advanced wireless, mobile device applications that are just entering the marketplace or
will be introduced in the near future one area explored was traffic and transportation
usage. Over a quarter of consumers (28%) strongly or very strongly liked the idea of
using GPS technology to ba