Over half of Australian kids now use tablet computers, with girls leading the way

March 14 2014 Finding No. 5486 Topic: Press Release For those doubting if tablet computers are here to stay, the latest data from Roy Morgan Research's Young Australians Survey shows they are now in mainstream use among Australian kids.

In the 12 months to December 2013, more than half of all boys and girls aged six to 13 (53%) owned or used a tablet computer, up from 1 in 3 (33%) in 2012.

Girls extended their lead over boys from 1% point in 2012 to 4% points last year.

Kids in Victoria remain the most likely to own or use a tablet (57%, up from 38% in 2012), ahead of Western Australia (54%), Queensland (53%) and NSW (52%). Year-on-year, the sharpest rate of growth has been in Tasmania, where usage among kids has more than doubled from 21% in 2012 to 46% in 2013, catching up to be on par with South Australia/Northern Territory.

57% of 10-13 year-olds and 49% of 6-9 year-olds now own or use a tablet.

2012 and 2013: Proportion of children who own or use a tablet computer

Roy Morgan Single Source (Australia), January 2012 to December 2013 n = 7348 Australians aged 6-13.

John La Rosa, General Manager - Agencies, Roy Morgan Research, says: 'The speed with which tablet computers have become mainstream is a phenomenon that we'll no doubt see repeated many times as more user- and kid-friendly technologies enter the marketplace. Tablet computers will become a model for marketers looking to predict adoption trends in the future, and a case study in how devices move from being considered supplementary to necessary, desirable to indispensable. 'It didn't take long after tablets were first launched for parents to recognise their value as an entertainment and educational device with multiple applications suitable for everyone in the house. 'The majority of children now own or have access to a tablet, with now girls almost 8% more likely than boys to use one.' For comments or more information please contact:

John La Rosa, General Manager - Agencies Telephone: +61 (2) 9261 8233John.Larosa@roymorgan.com

Please click on this link to the Related Research Roy Morgan Online Store About Roy Morgan Research

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Roy Morgan Research is the largest independent Australian research company, with offices in each state of Australia, as well as in New Zealand, the United States and the United Kingdom. A full service research organisation specialising in omnibus and syndicated data, Roy Morgan Research has over 70 years' experience in collecting objective, independent information on consumers.

Margin of Error

In Australia, Roy Morgan Research is considered to be the authoritative source of information on financial behaviour, readership, voting intentions and consumer confidence. Roy Morgan Research is a specialist in recontact customised surveys which provide invaluable and effective qualitative and quantitative information regarding customers and target markets.

The margin of error to be allowed for in any estimate depends mainly on the number of interviews on which it is based. Margin of error gives indications of the likely range within which estimates would be 95% likely to fall, expressed as the number of percentage points above or below the actual estimate. Allowance for design effects (such as stratification and weighting) should be made as appropriate.

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Tablets as secondary computers for the enterprise

Summary: Tablets are going to the office in greater numbers as time progresses. Enterprises struggling with how to make them work should perhaps keep the desktops and incorporate tablets as secondary devices.

(Image: James Kendrick/ZDNet)

In some companies tablets are all over the place, and they often fill primary computing roles for workers. That doesn't work in all cases, as the desktop and/or laptop still rules the office. Those companies wanting to go mobile may be struggling to figure out how to bring tablets in, as workers like them, and often they can increase productivity at a low cost.

When those in charge of corporate PC deployments think about tablets, it's often in the role of a primary computer. The strategy is considered to have tablets replace the aging desktops and laptops. History has shown that it's good business to have one computer per employee, and that's the approach usually taken.

For some companies, it makes better sense to bring tablets in to augment the existing computer infrastructure. This is especially appropriate for those enterprises implementing a BYOD program. That allows easing the tablet in without stressing the existing environment.

Tablets are famous as consumption devices, and believe it or not this works well for most offices. When we think of consumption on a tablet we think of music, video, and the like, but it also pertains to documents and databases.

Tablets are perfect for workers to have a look at the latest quarterly numbers for example, and to communicate thoughts about them. The onscreen keyboard is adequate for making small changes to work documents, and other light editing duties.

See related: Microsoft Office: Enabling the iPad to do 'real work' | Office for the iPad: It's all about the enterprise | The ABCs of BYOD for the SMB

Field representatives can have the PC in the office for doing real work, and a tablet when they hit the road. Sales reps in particular find tablets to be great for accessing price databases in the office, while sitting in front of a customer's desk. This is the perfect scenario for the tablet as a secondary computer.

I've long been an advocate of using a tablet with a keyboard as a laptop replacement, but that's not a good solution for many. For those folks (and companies), the tablet is meant to be used in the hands, consuming content. The secondary role is good for these folks, as the primary PC back in the office is a fallback for them.

Not being thrust in the position to get everything done on a tablet helps ease those workers resistant to change into using the slate. The more they use the tablet for work tasks, the more likely they are to end up doing quite a bit with them.

Tablets are very personal by nature, and it's not uncommon for those new to the form to take to them. These employees may end up being more productive with the tablet than without. This could lead to a greater role in the enterprise for tablets down the gray carpeted road.

In summary, it may be easier to get workers to buy into using the tablet if it's not expected to be the only computer. Let employees continue to use the full computer in the office, and ease into using the tablet outside. You may be surprised how quickly they adopt the tablet to fill a greater role in their work effort.

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Tablet computers 'boost children's reading skills'

The study by the National Literacy Trust found that children from poorer homes who use tablet computers to look at stories, as well as reading books, do better at school than those who only read in print.

The results from the National Literacy Trust's first annual early years survey, in collaboration with Pearson, highlight the dominant role played by technology in children's communication and language skills both at home and in early years settings among the under-fives.

According to the reports, research shows that there are benefits to looking at or sharing stories using both print and touch screen compared to looking at stories in print alone.

The Trust carried out two separate surveys with early years practitioners and parents.

The online survey of 1,028 parents of three- to five-year-olds found that three-quarters of three- to-five-year-olds have access to tablets or smartphone technology at home.

During a typical week a quarter of all the children surveyed use touch screens to read or look at stories and nearly all children (95 per cent) read print-based stories at home.

The research also reveals that although children from lower socio-economic backgrounds are less likely to have access to touch-screens at home, those that do are more likely to use them than their better-off peers to look at or read stories on a touch-screen daily.

Across all social groups children that read on tablets as well as print enjoyed reading more than children who read in print only.

An online survey of 362 early years practitioners found that one in five of them said that children have access to tablet computers in their setting.

Most practitioners were positive about children using touch screen devices and the majority felt that it was important for children to learn how to use technology from an early age.

The survey also reveals a divide between private, voluntary and independent settings, which used touch-screens more frequently than those in the maintained sector.

The report claims that the majority of practitioners would like to increase the use of devices in their settings.

Lack of finances and resources were highlighted by practitioners as barriers to integrating touch screen technology in their early years settings.

A survey by Ofcom last year found that 28 per cent of three-and four-year-olds use a tablet computer.

Jonathan Douglas, director of the National Literacy Trust, said, 'Technology is playing an increasingly crucial role in all our lives and the ways in which children are learning are changing fast. It is important that we keep abreast of these changes and their impact on children's education.

'When parents read with their children, whatever the medium, they increase their child's enjoyment of reading, which brings life-long benefits. Both practitioners and parents have a vital role to play in supporting children to read from an early age whether they use books or a touch screen.'

Julie McCulloch, head of primary marketing at Pearson, said, 'We are delighted to have collaborated with the National Literacy Trust on this important research project. Pearson is committed to helping people make progress in their lives through learning. Ensuring children, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, get off to a strong start in literacy is key to this commitment.

'Technology is an integral part of today's childhood. We look forward to continuing to explore how we can harness its power to establish a lifelong love of reading in children.'

Practitioners can find tips on using technology to support children's children's reading on screen and in print and for parents at http://ift.tt/1lSVobp. http://ift.tt/1hgKyaM For tablet reviews of the best budget tablets

Report: Tablets To Outsell Computers By 2015

Mobile technology continues to dominate the world marketplace, with tablet computers, mobile phones, portable media devices, and even wearable gadgets quickly saturating the market.

The success of those efforts by technology companies is becoming more and more apparent, with recent reports suggesting that tablets will be outselling standard personal computers [PCs] by 2015.

A report by the International Data Corporation [IDC] says, 'According to the International Data Corporation Worldwide Quarterly Tablet Tracker, the total tablet market, inclusive of both tablets and 2-in-1 devices, is forecast to grow 19.4% in 2014, down from a growth rate of 51.6% in 2013.

Past and predicted PC, laptop, and tablet sales [graph courtesy of Statista]:

'IDC reduced the 2014 forecast by -3.6% from its previous projection to 260.9 million units worldwide. The reduction in the short-term forecast was due to slowing consumer purchases as hardware iterations slow and the installed base-particularly in mature markets-continues to grow.

'Over the course of the past two years average selling prices [ASPs] have declined rapidly in the tablet market, but this too appears to be slowing. In 2012, ASPs declined -18.3% from the previous year, and in 2013 prices dropped another -14.6%.

'Price erosion has started to slowly bottom out, with ASPs forecast to drop a modest -3.6% in 2014. IDC believes ASP declines will slow for several reasons; chief among them are the growth of higher-priced commercial shipments and a consumer movement away from ultra-low cost products.'

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