Q&A
1.Is your mobile phone of the touchscreen variety?
YES: 30% NO: 70%
The answer to this question came as something of a surprise. Engineers operate at the cutting edge of technology but their mobile phones remain rather antiquated. Many said they preferred buttons, and didn’t want to change for the sake of it. Others happily admitted to adopting a Luddite stance.
2. Do you use your mobile phone to regularly access the internet?
YES: 32% NO: 68%
It’s clear that engineers are way too busy to be sitting around surfing the web from their mobile phones. Many said that they didn’t like browsing on a small screen, while others simply hadn’t got round to sorting out their connectivity. Either way browsing the web from a mobile phone wasn’t hugely popular.
3. Do you use your mobile phone to access networking sites such as Facebook?
YES: 18% NO: 82%
We knew we were on shaky ground asking this question, but went ahead anyway. “Don’t be so ridiculous” screamed one chap. “I’m not an 18-year-old,” said another. Yet despite the heavy majority dead set against Facebooking via mobile, it’s a fair bet that the 18% figure will grow rapidly in the future.
4. Do you access work emails through a mobile communications device such as a BlackBerry?
YES: 25% NO: 75%
Unlike those in other professions, such as perhaps our esteemed colleagues in the banking sector, engineers did not see being constantly wedded to the job as a badge of honour. Plenty of readers said they feared becoming addicted to mobile communications devices such as the BlackBerry, and didn’t want to become one of those tragic people you occasionally see in restaurants furtively checking their emails under the table while out dining with their loved-ones. Others said that they worked hard during office hours, and were prepared to work late when required but they resented being on constant call. And so three quarters of readers were happy to remain free of access to email.
5. Have you seriously considered buying an Apple iPad?
YES: 14% NO: 86%
Another question probing the desire of engineers to own the latest gadgets. The results showed they weren’t too fussed. Many readers said they had seen the iPad and were amazed at its capabilities. But that didn’t mean they wanted to buy one.
6. Do you think that tablet devices such as Apple’s iPad will be used regularly for business applications within the next three years?
YES: 45% NO: 39% Don't know: 16%
The previous question showed that not many readers coveted Apple’s swanky iPad tablet device. But that doesn’t mean that they cannot see how its functionaility might be useful in a business environment. Indeed, many media organisations already use the iPad as a means of carrying out presentations to potential clients. And the results of this question showed that a significant percentage of our readers expect the device to make a similar impact in their sector some time soon. From analysing the write-in comments next to this question, it was clear that there was a strong sentiment among older readers that you cannot fight change. Several engineers specifically said that they didn’t really understand what the iPad and similar devices offered, but it was evident that they were popular among the young and therefore represented the future.
7. Do you think that the ubiquitous nature of mobile phones has degraded work/life balance?
YES: 56% NO: 40% Don't know: 4%
You often hear the complaint that work/life balance is being eroded because mobile devices mean employees can never escape the office. The majority of engineers think this is true. A few years ago it would have been unthinkable to be taking calls or texts from colleagues while you lounged by the pool on your hard-earned holiday but now it seems to be the norm. However, there is still a sizeable minority out there who claim not to be at the beck and call of the office. Many readers said that even devices such as BlackBerrys had an ‘off’ button and they weren’t afraid to use it. There was a strong message that came through here from a good percentage of readers: we will not be bullied into giving up our spare time for free. It was surprising and rather refreshing to find that so many people were prepared to make a stand on this issue.
8. Do you think widespread use of modern communication devices has degraded conversational skills?
YES: 54% NO: 40% Don't know: 6%
The results here were very similar to those for the previous question. A slim majority felt that the use of modern communications devices had degraded conversational skills. Many readers pointed out that written skills had also been a victim of modern technologies. Some readers chose “OMG”, “LOL”, to use the hideous language of text-speak, in the write-in replies to prove their point - it was a point well made. But again there was an underlying message that came out of this question from a significant minority - conversational skills would only be lost if you let them. Many readers said they often chose to walk across to a colleague’s desk for a chat rather than send an email. And others said they still tended to phone family and friends to find out how they were, rather than take the easy option and send a quick text. It seemed that engineers were determined to make valiant efforts to keep the art of conversation alive.