A new study has found that we can barely function – let alone travel – without our mobile devices at reach. Some of the findings of the 2015 Expedia/Egencia Mobile Index show that leaving the house without your smartphone is tantamount to Gollum misplacing his precious ring.
To illustrate,
the Expedia smartphone study found that participants consider their phones the most invaluable item to carry when going abroad — moreso than a toothbrush, driver’s license, or any other items normally considered necessities. Around 60 percent of participants simply said they would be unwilling to travel without a phone.
While having quick access to maps and Google search is obviously a huge safety net while travelling, the downside is that a reliance on mobile technology means many feel they never truly “unplug”. The findings showed that 84 percent of travellers worldwide want to be able to access information from anywhere while they travel, with more than half of respondents saying they would be "lost" without a mobile device on vacation and 60 percent admitting they therefore fail to unwind on holiday.
The study was commissioned by Expedia and conducted online by Northstar, a globally integrated strategic insights consulting firm, polling 9,642 adults across 19 countries within North America, Europe, South America and Asia Pacific. "We have found that travellers are using mobile devices at every stage of the travel process, from researching and booking trips to capturing and sharing the travel experience," said Aman Bhutani, president for Brand Expedia Group.
“And just because a traveller can use their device to read work email and stay connected to the office, they also believe it improves the quality of their vacations. Consumers tell us what they do and don’t like in their mobile offerings and habits, and we’ve been listening and steadily adapting to provide what the mobile-savvy travellers demand.”
The study also revealed that smartphone etiquette is most certainly a thing, with a range of faux pas ranked in order off offensiveness. “Playing music, games or videos without headphones” is considered to be the most offensive mobile behaviour, which was cited by 58 percent of respondents. "Making/taking calls while on speakerphone" was almost as unpleasant, bothering 57 percent of people, while "taking photos/videos of strangers" is unbearable to 48 percent.
The list of perceived mobile etiquette violations, in order of offensiveness, includes:
–Playing music, games or videos without headphones: 58%
–Making/taking calls while on speakerphone: 57%
–Taking photos/videos of strangers: 48%
–Making / taking voice calls while dining at a restaurant / café: 39%
–Enabling notifications on the loud setting: 39%
–Texting or emailing while attending a seated performance: 35%
–Making/taking video calls: 25%
–Photographing food during meal: 22%
–Entertaining children with games, apps or videos: 18%
–Attaching a fitness tracker visibly to an undergarment: 16%
–Posting more than 3 updates per day on social media: 14%
–Using location-based dating apps: 13%
–Taking photos using a tablet device: 13%