Smarter News, Analysis & Research Communities. Employees Are More Productive When They Can Tweet. Though it may seem counterintuitive, giving employees time to play around on their smartphones every day could actually benefit businesses, new research suggests. Even though it might seem like smartphones would hamper workplace productivity — thanks to their ability to make telephone calls, surf the Internet and play games — they might not be the costly distraction companies think they are, according to a study by two members of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology.
"Having workers take small breaks on their phones throughout the day may positively influence their perceived well-being at the end of the workday," said Sooyeol Kim, one of the study's authors and a doctoral student at Kansas State University. To better understand what effects smartphone usage had on employees, researchers surveyed 72 workers from various industries in South Korea. "We buy smartphones so we can interact with people," Kim said. Kids love multitasking on multiple screens, study finds. While the number of screens and touchscreens invading our homes may seem jarring and frightening to us adults, a new study suggests that children are quite capable of adapting to our high tech lifestyle.
Researchers at the University of Brostol and Loughborough University (via ScienceDaily) have been examining the effect multiple electronic viewing devices has on children and how they interact with multiple devices at a time. The results are promising, depending on your point of view. After questioning 10-11 year olds, scientists found that the kids enjoyed viewing multiple screened devices simultaneously–like using an iPad while watching television. The kids tended to use the device during breaks in their entertainment, talking or texting friends during commercials or if they’re watching something they don’t want to watch. The number of devices popping up also means that it is now harder for parents to disconnect their children from the digital world for any period of time. Teenage years prime time to teach financial skills, recommends Mintel | Mintel.com.
Generation Zzz: younger consumers kept awake by energy drinks | Mintel.com. Published on October 26th, 2011 inShare0 “They are born into a world of fast communication and instant gratification – but it looks like they need a little extra help to get through their frenzied days. Indeed, according to latest research from Mintel, energy drinks are a huge factor in keeping the so-called ‘Generation Z’ (those born in the last decade of the Millennium) going, with the majority (73%) of them drinking energy drinks, compared to only three in 10 (31%) of 55+ year-olds. Furthermore, while taste is stated as the primary reason for buying energy drinks by 73% of 16 to 24 year-olds, up to seven in 10 (70%) of them choose energy drinks as they provide a general energy boost and almost the same number (66%) specifically indicate the improvement of their performance at work or while studying as a key reason of consumption.
Jonny Forsyth, Senior Drinks Analyst at Mintel, said: