Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
ARE YOU READING this on a smartphone? Well there’s a decent chance you are according to a new survey which says that 53 per cent of Irish people now own one.
The new research, which was carried out on behalf of Eircom by Behaviour & Attitudes, reveals that there are 1.7 million smartphone users in Ireland with 25 per cent of people also having access to a tablet.
The 53 per cent figure represents a steady rise on the figure of 39 per cent from only twelve months ago and is based on a survey of a thousand adults over 16-years-old.
Despite this, a third of Irish people admit to not being able to keep up with new trends. As part of the survey 33 per cent of people agreed with the statement, “I just don’t understand computers and new technology.” This figure was 75 per cent for those aged over 65 and 7 per cent for young people between 16 and 24.
‘Appy days
Smartphone users have an average 0f 21 apps but respondents say they only use seven at least once a week. A massive 75 per cent of smartphone users have the Facebook app on their phone with the taxi service Hailo commanding an impressive 41 per cent.
The rise of ‘media stacking’ is one of the major features of the survey with three-quarters (74 per cent) of 16-24 year olds saying they often post or tweet on a different topic while watching TV.
The research also contains some interesting figures about how the prevalence of mobile technology has altered the habits of society. For example:
Clinical psychologist David Coleman worked with Eircom on the survey and says that one of the things that struck him most was how we, as a nation, increasingly post or tweet about TV content with numerous devices:
In homes across the country, parents of teenagers, whether they are aware of it or not, now witness the practice of media stacking on a regular basis. The heightened levels of engagement mean that the days of just sitting down to watch TV are gone.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
I cannot understand why the Gov do not invest that money into the Air Corp and let them carry out all SAR missions, as it is the AirCorp carry out many missions already.
At least this way the Gov would own the helis etc instead send money out of the state.
@Brian Guilfoyle: Depreciation, maybe? I’d imagine those helis are rugged, because they get a lot of use.
@Brian Guilfoyle: Absolutely 100% agree, the Coast Guard should be more closely integrated into Defence Forces , we have spent the guts of € Billion with CHC. We need to invest in Aer Corps and Navy to deliver a world class Coast Guard and Naval Patrol. Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in terms of Maritime territory is 11 times the size of Ireland. The Government should at this a strategic long term Investment if they are serious about Ireland’s Neutrally or Militarily non -aligned. Our capabilities are really poor when when compared with other “Neutral“ countries.
We need to be position to be able to conduct active 24×7 surveillance & protection of EEZ which contains some the most stratgeic Fibre optic comms between Europe and North America and some of fishing waters on the Globe.
@Brian Guilfoyle: We can’t even operate a basic Defence Force as it is, the thing is falling apart at the seams – plus we need help from the UK to protect our own airspace. Don’t forget the Air Corps ‘weren’t available’ the night of the R116 tragedy either….just another in a long history of unavailability. Can you imagine the current AC doing SAR in all fairness. Sorry to hear your ship is sinking, but the AC “is not available”… The Government is obviously at fault and needs to invest the same if not more into the Defence Forces before it can even ‘consider’ doing SAR. This is a 24-7 role with 98%+ availability, not a ’9 to 5′ jobbie.
@Frank Flanagan: were the Air Corps supposed to be waiting on an emergency that night 116 went down??? Crews are paid to be on duty… CHC had had Crews paid to be in Dublin, Waterford, Shannon and Sligo 24 x 7… that was their contract.. the Air Corps carried out SAR for 42 years prior to politicians awarding th contract to CHC… The Air Corps has been slowly draining since..
I just hope it’s not going to be another taxpayer sponsored service outsourced abroad
@Daniel Dudek:
Or brown envelope job
Service must be working so now it’s going to get broken. Why can’t they just renew the contract with the same people. Has someone got a vested interest here I wonder.
@Dave Barrett: or maybe there’s better aircraft or deal to be had. There’s plenty to moan about with our government but the amount of just baseless conjecture is astonishing. Moaning journal.
It seemed that we in Ireland are hell-bent on outsourcing to private companies making people believe we are getting a better deal… but the reality is we’re not at €670 million… has an average helicopter for this purpose is about €20 million which Air Corps equipped with 4 would only be required…Air Corps is also getting two new C295 SaR aircraft is designed for this purpose…so there is €500 million been wasted by this government.
@PMac: They can buy all the aircraft in the world, but when you haven’t got the qualified staff to operate them, whats the point.
Does anyone know are the crews and helicopters employed by CHC and therefore they will either lose their jobs or have to be rehired, and the machines potentially sent off to some other contract, or is it that this Bristow crew will just step in and crews and helicopters will just keep going pretty much as is with other people managing logistics that kinda thing? Seems mad to dismantle a service that’s already there and get in and train new crews etc potentially. In that case the government should have just bought out CHC Ireland and folded it into the army services. It’s not like we couldn’t afford it, it’s just that we’d probably feck up running it.
@bazhealy: Bristow will have to use their own machines, likely crews also though I imagine the current crews could/will apply for to fill their own positions.
Should be the Aircorps, end of!
@Chutes: thanks Chutes. Yes it should. Without a shadow of a doubt.
Air corps had it before CHC and the crash at Tramore scuppered their chance of getting it..
Probably over the outcome of the accident
Which was pilot error but the insurer
Would not pay out the claims for the 3 deaths of the rest of the crew and the aircraft.
A very messy case indeed .
Bristow operate alot oil rig work etc
Can I ask a question, how
Somebody must have done the maths
have your say