I’m a Digital Collaborator. What kind of tech users are you?

May 20th, 2009 Karine Joly 46 Comments

The Pew Internet and American Life Project released, in March 2009, a typology of tech users incorporating attitudes towards the mobile web (which was an addition compared to their previous typology I wrote about in May 2007) in a report titled “The Mobile Difference.”

10 user categories were identified as described in this table below:

typology-summary-infographic

Two days ago was released an online quiz composed of 14 questions to help you place yourself in one of these categories in the Pew Internet Project’s Typology of Information and Communication Technology Users

I filled out the survey and got the verdict the Pew’s verdict: I’m a Digital Collaborator – and part of a minority group – only 8% of the population.

If you are a Digital Collaborator, you use information technology to work with and share your creations with others. You are enthusiastic about how ICTs help you connect with others and confident in how to manage digital devices and information. For you, the digital commons can be a camp, a lab, or a theater group – places to gather with others to develop something new.

I bet many readers of this blog are probably digital collaborators as well.

Let’s try to find out!
Please take the quiz and post YOUR resulting type in a comment.

46 Responses

  1. Well, whaddya know? I too am a digital collaborator.

  2. Great survey! And to no one’s surprise, I am a digital collaborator

  3. Yep, me too– digital collaborator. Although I wouldn’t mind if the phone function on my iPhone went away ;-)

  4. Todd says:

    Desktop Veteran… rolling sans mobile device since birth. Please help out and sign my “Save the Payphone” petition.

  5. Todd says:

    Yikes, didn’t see the quiz link and just went down the list and picked where I fit. After taking the quiz I was granted “Digital Collaborator” status. Perhaps I broke something since I’m not “Motivated by Mobility” at all. :(

  6. Gordon Ryan says:

    No surprises here–Digital Collaborator.

  7. Bradjward says:

    Digital Collaborator, all the way.

  8. Another Digital Collaborator. Excellent research and quiz. I’d caught the research earlier, but totally missed the quiz. Thanks for pointing it out.

  9. Annnnnd, another Digital Collaborator here. :)

  10. Shelley Keith says:

    Yep, Digital Collaborator. Seems I’m in some pretty good company :)

  11. I took the quiz yesterday and wouldn’t you know I’m a Digital Collaborator too! (Must be all of us fun techy people)

  12. Heidi Cool says:

    Surprise, surprise. I’m a digital collaborator as well. Given that most of us work on the Web, I don’t know that we could have been much else. But like J. Todd and Todd, I’m not big on mobile devices. I don’t surf the Web from my phone, and I don’t want to call people or be called when I’m out and about.

    I’m easily found via e-mail and various social media services when I’m online, and am happy to take my laptop with me when I need to be connected, but if I’m out socializing that’s my time to pull the plug. We can’t all be available 24/7. (Even if my late night Twitter habits would suggest otherwise!)

  13. Paul says:

    Digital Collaborator. I feel so common now.

  14. Kati Davis says:

    Thanks for sharing this! According to this quiz I’m also a digital collaborator :) I’d toss out my tv in a second if challenged but can’t be further than 5 feet from my iphone at all times.

    …but I really think there’s a level above what I do – the questions seem just a wee bit dated.

  15. Ann McClure says:

    I’m an Ambivalent Networker, which looks like a boys club.
    Just thought I’d scare all these digital collaborators with my blase attitude!

  16. Lori Packer says:

    Seems I’m a Desktop Veteran. Guess I better start acting more crotchety.

  17. Azure Collier says:

    I’m a Digital Collaborator, which is not a surprise. I fit into some of the demographics. I’m in my 30s and well-educated (just received my master’s last week; my thesis was about young adults, their social networking habits and how they use technology to manage relationships). However, I am female, and – if you knew my checking account balance – not well off!

  18. Susan Tams says:

    I’m a Roving Node.

  19. Elizabeth Tollefson says:

    I am a digital collaborator.

  20. Liz MacDonald says:

    I’m with you Ann … Ambivalent Networker

  21. I’m a digital collaborator, which shouldn’t come as a surprise at this point. Interesting experiement, Karin!

  22. Beth English says:

    Digital collaborator too!

  23. Cathi Douglas says:

    Digital collaborator too!

  24. Cyndi Atkins says:

    Another digital collaborator. Even though I haven’t twittered at all today. But have texted, checked the iTouch, and read a higher ed editorial in the Denver Post online this afternoon.

  25. K. says:

    i am a digital collaborator, too!

  26. Kathleen Tuck says:

    I’m a Desktop Veteran – love the Internet but don’t need to take technology with me everywhere I go. Sometimes I want to be incognito.

  27. Mansi Bhatia says:

    I’m a digital collaborator…but wouldn’t most people who are taking this quiz be one?

  28. Mary Ridgway says:

    Digital collaborator– I think I’m throwing off the profile. I’m an over 50 female.

  29. CB says:

    Digital collaborator as well!

  30. NW says:

    I’m an ambivalent networker…and that’s so accurate. I hate how intrusive social networking sites are and dislike it that people assume I want to read their posts or twitter about trivial things. At the same time, I like being able to gather information and be in touch with people far away. So…I guess I’m simply ambivalent (which is better than how I used to classify myself–as a late adapter.)

  31. Jon Boyd says:

    The entire 8% of us Digital Collaborators has now entered a comment.

  32. gina says:

    Digital collaborator—and like Mary, Female, over 50
    Wonder if we’ll change their demographics

  33. Michelle says:

    I’m a desktop veteran and the description is perfect. Avid Internet user but not into the oversharing of some social media. And I very rarely turn on my cell phone. I LIKE not being able to be reached sometimes. Plus it doesn’t work in the rural area in which I live … too bad.

  34. sara says:

    Interesting – I’m an Information Mover

  35. Jodi Bailey says:

    I’m a Digital Collaborator.

  36. Ted says:

    I’m an information mover … not sure what that means. I like the internet and computers and use them every day, but if they were to disappear today at noon, I may not notice. When I go on vacation or travel, I never seem to miss them. My cellphone, however, I feel naked without.

  37. Pat says:

    I’m feeling alone here — a Mobile Connector (why don’t I see the category above?).

  38. Dee says:

    Information Mover – which does not appear above!

    I’d be interested to see the demographics on that type.

  39. Sherrie says:

    Digital collaborators rock.! Fits me perfectly, even though I’m female and over 50.

  40. Lesanne says:

    Digital collaborator (and mong the ranks of female and over 50, too)!

  41. Holly says:

    Digital Collaborator. My 27-year-old son has called me an “internet sophisticate” so now I have a new term of endearment he can use. Also among the ranks of female and over fifty, though I certainly do NOT look it :-)

  42. Nancy Prater says:

    Definitely am a digital collaborator.

  43. Tim says:

    I’m a Digital Collaborator

  44. Janice says:

    I’m a Media Mover

  45. Jennifer Lyle says:

    I’m a digital collaborator

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