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Survey
INRIA publishes the results of its inaugural survey on ‘The French and the New Digital World’
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INRIA, a public research institute specialising in computational sciences, has, in partnership with TNS Sofres, launched a major annual survey to assess French people’s attitudes to digital technology and their perception of the ‘new digital world’.
Our society relies on digital technologies to an ever-increasing extent in order to communicate, receive health-care treatment, travel or simply have fun. New inventions are shaping a New World. This daily reality, at once invisible, diverse and omnipresent, raises a fundamental question: how much do French people understand of the digital world in which they live? To answer this question, INRIA, in partnership with TNS Sofres, has developed a new annual survey that will chart French people’s attitudes to the changing world.
Six different attitudes to digital technology
The French do not share the same perception of the world shaped by digital sciences. Some have already made this New World their own, while others refuse an ‘all-digital’ lifestyle.
1. The great explorers (18%): Digital pioneers and always ahead of the pack, they are the first specimens of Homo digitalis. Truly engaged with this New World, they move about it with ease, and are constantly looking for new places to discover.
2. The pragmatic adventurers (16%): They travel with speed over the territories opened up by the great explorers, following a pragmatic approach above all. Curious, open-minded, and realistic about the potential of digital technology, they are also aware of everything that gave structure to the ‘world before’, and emphasise the need to be responsible in their explorations.
3. The apprentice travellers (20%): These are people who have just embarked upon the ways of the New World. They are adventurous and enthusiastic, but seldom dare to venture onto unexplored paths.
4. The prudent hikers (16%): They know that they live in a changing world, but are wary of the territories they are discovering and only make limited use of their own discoveries.
5. The digital recalcitrants (10%): Watching the developments of this New World with a worried eye, they make use of new technologies, but do not like the consequences. These new places make them nostalgic and they dream of returning to the world they knew before, and all that was comfortable and familiar about it.
6. The happy homebodies (16%): The digital world is far from being indispensable to them. They seldom if ever encounter it in their daily existence, and make no effort to be informed of developments in this field. Yet, they are not opposed to development and are willing to alter their judgement if faced with concrete examples of usefulness.
The following web page contains a graphic presenting the different types of traveller found in the New Digital World: www.inria.fr/lesfrancaisetlenumerique/infographie
Through its research and ties with industry, INRIA is contributing to the development of the New Digital World. It also wishes to further the public debate around societal issues related to digital technology, and provide all ‘travellers of the digital world’ with the right tools to tackle these new horizons.
About lnria
Established in 1967, Inria is the only public research body fully dedicated to computational sciences. Combining computer sciences with mathematics, Inria’s 3,400 researchers strive to invent the digital technologies of the future. Educated at leading international universities, they creatively integrate basic research with applied research and dedicate themselves to solving real problems, collaborating with the main players in public and private research in France and abroad and sharing the fruits of their work with innovative companies. The researchers at Inria published over 4,800 articles in 2010. They are behind over 270 active patents and 105 start-ups. In 2010, Inria’s budget came to 252.5 million euros, 26% of which represented its own resources.
For more information: http://www.Inria.fr/
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Keywords: TNS Sofres France Inter Digital developments and inventions Digital equipment of the French Digital sciences Opinion and use of digital technology Survey TF1 Metro
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