Results tagged “survey” from Birmingham Mail - Technobabble

I loved the description of the types of different postings on the micro-blogging site twitter which was part of a new study.

The report from market research firm Pear Analytics described 40 per cent of the messages sent as being "pointless babble." (an unfeasibly low proportion, I'd say).

The study found that only 8.7 per cent of messages could be said to have "value" as they passed along news of interest.

'BE vigilant' is the only suggestion put forward following a new survey which shows how many people have been targeted by online fraudsters.

To be fair the sample size of the survey - 1,563 - is small, the results which had 77 per cent saying they had received 'phishing' emails seems to ring true.

I blogged about my own experiences recently, when I discovered that there is no real capacity in police forces to look into online fraud.

It's understandable, given your average force has enough on its' plate dealing with ordinary street crime.

Not to mention the fact that many of the criminals concerned don't even operate from the UK, and trying to track them down would require a phenomenal level of resources and international co-operation.

The survey also found seven out of 10 people said they had received emails asking for money, while 67 per cent had been told they had won a lottery or competition that did not exist, according to life assistance company CPP.

Around 17 per cent of those questioned said they had also received emails from people claiming to be acquaintances or relatives in a bid to con them into handing over money or revealing personal information.

JUST arrived in my email inbox - a survey carried out into the thoughts of Birmingham parents into kids and their tv watching habits.

Now I won't bore you with a rant about surveys from PR companies - let's just say we get a lot and leave it there.

This one came up with surprisingly pro-TV responses - for example 84 per cent of parents in Birmingham supposedly believe it has a "positive effect on their child's development".

Those parents surveyed said it helps them to expand their imagination (59 per cent) and broaden vocabulary (65 per cent).

The press release adds: "These findings form part of an independent report by Dr Tanya Byron which looks at the effects of TV viewing on young children."

A quick shifty at Dr Byron's wikipedia entry reveals that amongst her many talents are "hosting and co-writing TV programmes".

And who has put out the research? Er Freeview. Who some recall may have an interest in studies which say kids watching tv is 'beneficial'.

Oh well. I'll chuck their books in the bin, stop talking to them and leave it in the hands of cbeebies then!

Below - this is what your child should look like!