Web based technology is 'essential to the family home' says O2

Based on results of a new report families are being brought closer together with the help of the internet and the services that are associated with it.

People are apparently embracing technology to the point were the way in which they communicate is being effected in a beneficial way according to this weeks research that was put together by O2.

With broadband now being prioritised over utility and food bills for 11 million homes, a study entitled New Digital Families Report has revealed that web based technology is no longer being considered a “discretionary household expenditure”.

It was found that 40 percent of parents said that subscriptions and technology would count for 10 percent of their annual budget still, in the report where 500 UK families were asked about their priorities in a time of recession.

One of the main ways in which families now communicate was now noted as being through the use of online services, with sites like Bebo, Twitter, MySpace and Facebook being used to stay in touch with immediate relatives by around 3.4 million parents.

In order to categorise the type of households families fell into four specific profiles were additionally identified. ‘Resistors’ were “more hesitant” about technology, whilst ‘Leaders’ were described as being “excited by technology, use it extensively”, and also found it easy to use.

‘Drifters’ were found to look at “what the kids want” to make their purchasing decisions and ‘Followers’ were found to take “a pragmatic approach to the things that they buy”.

The marketing director at Telefonica O2 UK, Alistair Johnston said “At O2 we strongly believe that technology has a hugely positive role to play in helping families better manage their hectic lives.”

The launch of Joggler, which is a web-enabled device that could reportedly help in the organising of homes for families, was announced by O2 in March of this year.