Re: At Home and with Computer Access – Why and Where People Use Cell Phones to Access the Internet

Summary

Nylander et al. designed and conducted a diary and interview study with the aim of investigating the situations and comparative locations in which Internet use from cell phones takes place. According to the results of their research, mobile phones were not only used for accessing the Internet in situations where computers are not available, but in all kinds of situations.

Comments

A basic limitation of this study refers to the sample size and its representativeness. More specifically, the survey did not consider a wider selection of the Swedish mobile phone user population. Nevertheless, the study constitutes an exploratory type of research, implying that emphasis was placed on understanding the behavioural phenomena towards providing some generic user implications, rather than providing robust statistical results.

Future research can elaborate on the present study findings towards developing and testing corresponding research hypotheses within conclusive research designs (i.e., through descriptive or causal research approaches). For example, a potential hypothesis may investigate and test whether there are significant differences in the pattern of “mobile users” and “home users”. By examining the issues that the different types of users contend with, we can better understand how and why mobile phone internet use is growing and how public perception of mobile phones is shaped. Documentation of such behavior may provide new theoretical insights, and helps ground the design and user spaces of wireless communications technology.