| "I could live without my gadgets but I want them!" | | Darshana, 24 from Leicester |
With the recent launch of two large music companies online download sites adding to an ever increasing market based around new technology we've been left wondering if it's only computer geeks who would own this impressive stuff. Armed with a list of relatively new gadgets we strolled the streets of Leicester and grabbed a variety of people (from waitresses to super heroes!) for a quick run down on their technical possessions. Take a look at who we chatted to and their opinions...
Home Entertainment Unsurprisingly (as it's not exactly the latest technology) every person we asked owned a television. We didn't even find it that shocking that 65% of them owned more than one TV (although it did seem a bit excessive to have six!).
 | | Students live by them! |
It is clear to see that DVD has become the new standard way to watch your favourite films with a massive 95% of people asked owning one or more. This is also reflected in the bargain prices appearing in the shops (Becca noted how her copy of 'The Usual Suspects' bought about four years ago has a price ticket on it demanding £22.99 - an extortionate price compared to the £5.99 tag she spotted last week!) The Computer Generation You probably can't remember life without your PC or laptop, but it has only been in the last 10 years that computers have become common in the home - in 1998/99 only 33% of households owned a computer which increased impressively to 58% by 2003/04. So either there has been even more of a dramatic increase in computer purchases this year or we cheated probability as a massive 90% of the people we spoke to own a computer! Living for the music!
 | | Claire's mp3 helps her keep fit! |
Considering over 80% of the UK is able to receive digital radio stations and their recent championing in the news it was surprising that only 20% of the Leicester people owned one - quite a few weren't even sure what they were (including Halima!) Contrary to popular belief most people we asked still buy CDs as apposed to downloaded mp3 files (whether legal or not!). Although men are stereotyped as the gadget-loving sex we found that it was women who couldn't go without their mp3 players (Claire, 30 said - 'Without my iPod I probably wouldn't walk so much!') So it seems the modern world (or at least Leicestershire) is pretty much embracing technology with open arms. Everything will continue to get smaller, faster, smarter (and probably more expensive) - in fact by the time you've read this feature your brand new phone will be soooooo yesterday! | 
