If you think your family are particularly tech-savvy, it looks like you're not the only ones!
According to the eir Connected Living Survey, our reliance on smartphones has increased considerably in the last three years, with 70% of the population using one as their main mobile phone today in comparison with just 39% in 2012.
While we often question the amount of time we spend online, the vast majority of those surveyed highlight the innumerable advantages of staying connected - something which will undoubtedly be reflected in our Christmas wish lists this year.
According to the study, gaining access to the internet is increasingly being cited as a positive addition to peoples lifestyles with 43% asserting that having access to food ideas and information online has given them a healthier outlook on what to eat and drink.
The under 35 category are particularly engaged when it comes to using the internet for healthier diet ideas, with 63% saying that this access has enhanced their knowledge - a figure which indicates a potential rise in nutrition foodies, also known as Noodies.
People are recognising other benefits of better connectivity with 52% of those surveyed saying they would be interested in using products that enable remote monitoring of health of relatives and family members, with this figure rising to 64% in under 50s.
With Christmas on the horizon, it's perhaps no surprise that those of us who don't currently own one of these much-coveted devices expect to join our tech-savvy counterparts by the end of this year.
Similarly, the findings established that 12% of families who don't currently own a Smart TV are likely to make the switch during the festive season meaning that almost 500,000 households will have access to one by the beginning of the new year.
The desire to stay connected appears to infiltrate all aspects of our lives with 75% of the population asserting that they use the internet at least once a day – a figure which has increased by 6% since this time last year.
Between managing our inboxes, checking out the latest videos on YouTube and keeping up-to-date with our personal finances, it might come as no surprise to learn that almost 20% of people access the internet almost every waking hour of the day.
And while usage is greater among the younger generation, there's no doubt that the older among us are more than willing to jump on the technology bandwagon, with 45% of people over the age of 50 asserting that they are online daily.
Commenting on the findings which suggest we, as a nation, crave speedy connections, Lisa Comerford, eir Brand and Communications Director, says: “The findings really highlight how, as a society, we have an insatiable desire to be connected.”
“The trends over the past couple of years only point to one thing; demand for greater and better connectivity is only going to increase,” confirms Lisa.
It looks like we all know exactly what we want from Santa Claus this year!
