Business Software Alliance/Harris Interactive Poll Finds Many American Adults Lack Full Understanding of How Software Contributes to Value of Daily Life

Business Software Alliance/Harris Interactive Poll Finds Many American Adults Lack Full Understanding of How Software Contributes to Value of Daily Life

Survey Shows While Majorities Recognize Importance of Software's Role in Communications, Gathering Information and Entertainment; Awareness of Its Contributions to Transportation, Economic Well-Being, Health and Safety is Lower

WASHINGTON, Dec. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Public awareness is low when it comes to grasping software's unique contributions to improving transportation, economic well-being, health, safety and access to consumer products, according to the findings of a recent poll of Internet users commissioned by the Business Software Alliance (BSA) and conducted by Harris Interactive(R).

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041222/DCW004 )

The study revealed that a majority of American adults recognize the intrinsic role that software plays in their ability to communicate (72 percent), improve their ability to gather information (69 percent) and do more fun things (69 percent). Yet, only a small portion of adults grasp other significant contributions of software such as improving transportation (35 percent), economic well-being (23 percent), health and wellness (24 percent), and safety (18 percent).

"The technological advancements of software reach far beyond email communications, education and entertainment," said Diane Smiroldo, BSA's vice president of public affairs. "These findings reveal that though people understand the important role that software plays in many aspects of life, their awareness of the broader applications of software and its role behind the scenes in running our healthcare system, food supply, travel infrastructure and day-to-day safety and security could be higher. We need to work harder at closing this knowledge gap and educate the public on the full value of commercial software in our everyday lives."

Methodology

Harris Interactive(R) conducted the online survey for the Business Software Alliance in the United States between August 25-30, 2004 among 2,696 adults aged 18 and over. Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, income and region were weighted where necessary to align with population proportions. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents' propensity to be online.

In theory, with samples of this size, one could say with 95 percent certainty that the results have a sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points of what they would be if the entire U.S. adult population had been polled with complete accuracy. This online sample is not a probability sample.

About BSA

The Business Software Alliance (http://www.bsa.org/) is the foremost organization dedicated to promoting a safe and legal digital world. BSA is the voice of the world's commercial software industry and its hardware partners before governments and in the international marketplace. Its members represent one of the fastest growing industries in the world. BSA programs foster technology innovation through education and policy initiatives that promote copyright protection, cyber security, trade and e-commerce. BSA members include Adobe, Apple, Autodesk, Avid, Bentley Systems, Borland, CNC Software/Mastercam, Internet Security Systems, Macromedia, Microsoft, McAfee, SolidWorks, Sybase, Symantec, UGS and VERITAS Software.

About Harris Interactive(R)

Harris Interactive Inc. (http://www.harrisinteractive.com/), the 15th largest and fastest-growing market research firm in the world, is a Rochester, N.Y.-based global research company that blends premier strategic consulting with innovative and efficient methods of investigation, analysis and application. Known for The Harris Poll(R) and for pioneering Internet-based research methods, Harris Interactive conducts proprietary and public research to help its clients achieve clear, material and enduring results.

Harris Interactive combines its intellectual capital, databases and technology to advance market leadership acquired WirthlinWorldwide (http://www.wirthlinworldwide.com/), a Reston, Virginia-based research and consultancy firm ranked 25th largest in the world, and through an independent global network of affiliate market research companies. EOE M/F/D/V.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041222/DCW004
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Business Software Alliance

CONTACT: Debbi Bauman of the Business Software Alliance,
+1-202-530-5132, debbib@bsa.org; or Laura Brinker, +1-202-715-1540, or
laura.brinker@dittus.com, for the Business Software Alliance

Web site: http://www.bsa.org/
http://www.harrisinteractive.com/
http://www.wirthlinworldwide.com/


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