According to a recent American study, people who use wireless internet "show a deeper engagement with cyberspace."

The Pew Internet and American Life Project surveyed 798 US internet users and sampled almost 2,300 people about their wireless habits - "wireless" referring to an internet connection via a mobile or wi-fi network.

One statistic found by the study showed that while 54% of internet users check email on a typical day, 72% of wireless users check daily. But that's not all - wireless internet also seems to encourage connectivity with current events. Almost half of the surveyed wireless users accessed news online on a daily basis, compared to 31% of internet users at large. The report also revealed that the wireless trend is most popular with the younger generation, with its most prominent users being people under 30.

Communications professor Manuel Castells calls this phenomenon "relentless connectivity" - not only for its current state, but for the direction in which it's heading in the future. Indeed, Wireless is on the rise: the survey revealed that the number of internet users with wireless connection at home has nearly doubled, from 10% of users in January 2005 to 20% by December 2006.

So what are the factors encouraging wireless connection? Aside from convenience and mobility, the report suggests that, "lifestyle circumstances such as one's job, may require lots of email connectivity and associated wireless access" - thereafter extending wireless connection into homes, coffee shops and other areas outside the office, particularly by way of mobile phones. However, speculation that high-intensity use encourages the wireless movement supports the idea that "the key feature of mobile communication is connectivity and not mobility."

So while some call it a "deeper engagement", others brand it as "relentless connectivity". But either way, the rise of wireless internet signifies an increase in communication and a greater involvement within a global network.

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I guess being connected 'all the time' means there's usually something to do (like checking the news) when you have your laptop on you and some time to spare.

As for calling it a 'phenomenon', I think maybe that's going a bit overboard isn't it?

I'm sure more workspaces are going wireless but I for one prefer being hardwired in, you get none of that glitchy dropped connection for starters, haha

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::burning my teeth in the sun::

No kidding - one of the coach services in Oxford has free wireless, and it always drops out in the same place. It's really annoying. Still, can't complain - it is free