The focal point of home entertainment is changing as the computer edges out traditional consumer electronic devices in overall importance, says a new survey funded by Microsoft.
The living room isn't just for watching TV anymore. According to a new study more than half of those polled (63 percent) now use a computer in the living room, family room, den, dining room, kitchen, and media room or other group space in the home, including 28 percent who use a computer in the living room specifically.
The survey, conducted by Harris Interactive, polled more than 2,000 computer users ages 13 years and older. Almost half of those surveyed said their computer is more important than their television (43 percent), while nearly two-thirds said their computer outranks their CD player (63 percent), stereo (61 percent) or DVD player (59 percent).
As its role in home entertainment expands, the computer is moving out of the home office and into more-social rooms of the house, respondents said. More than half of those polled (63 percent) use a computer in the living room, family room, den, dining room, kitchen, and media room or other group space in the home, including 28 percent who use a computer in the living room specifically.
Consumers’ increased confidence in digital media also has resulted in growing interest in new ways to use the computer for entertainment. Sixty-nine percent of respondents said they are interested in having access to their digital music collection from anywhere in their home, as well as access to videos (51 percent) and photographs (51 percent). Sixty percent are interested in accessing entertainment on their computer without using a mouse or keyboard.
For more information visit Harris Interactive at www.harrisinteractive.com.
