Smart Phones Take the Lead

  • 06/01/09

A MARCH 2009 BALL STATE UNIVERSITY (IN) STUDY of 300 university students' mobile communications habits was undertaken as part of an ongoing twice-yearly survey of college students (currently 4,907, all-told), in place since 2005. Both studies have uncovered some fast-moving trends regarding the use of "smart" cell phones:

  • 27% of the most recently surveyed (300) students own a smart phone, as compared to the national average of 19% for working adults
  • 99.7% of students have a mobile communications device, and the rates of sending text messages, e-mail, photos, and videos are increasing
  • Text messaging has overtaken e-mail and IM as the main form of communication, as 94% of students send and receive text messages
  • About 62% of students admitted to texting while in class
  • Students use cell phones to keep in touch with family and friends, with 59% texting, 17% using voice, 9% sending IMs, and 7% using e-mail
  • Cell phone camera usage has surged, with 72% of respondents reporting that they take and send photographs via their cell phone, up from 30% in 2005
  • About 39% take and send video using their cell phone, up from 4% in 2005
  • 52% of respondents have received advertising on their cell phone in the last few months, up from 24% in 2005

Assistant Journalism Professor Michael Hanley leads the Ball State mobile communications research program. "In the few years since instant messaging [IM] leaped from the computer to the cell phone, a new mobile lifestyle has evolved," he says. "Save for studying, the computer is quickly being left behind." He adds that the minicomputer smart phones (which have larger screens and often include touch-screen applications) are ideal for entertainment functionality-- and thus are a sure draw for young adults. Not surprisingly, he predicts an explosion of emerging media applications for this demographic. Here at CT, we'll be watching as savvy educators put these rich-media apps to innovative academic use.

Featured

  • From the Kuali Days 2025 Conference: A CEO's View of Planning for AI

    How can a company serving higher education navigate the changes AI brings to ed tech? What will customers expect? CT talks with Kuali CEO Joel Dehlin, who shared his company's AI strategies with attendees at Kuali Days 2025 in Anaheim.

  • glowing blue AI sphere connected by fine light lines, positioned next to a red-orange shield with a checkmark

    Cloud Security Alliance Offers Playbook for Red Teaming Agentic AI Systems

    The Cloud Security Alliance has introduced a guide for red teaming Agentic AI systems, targeting the security and testing challenges posed by increasingly autonomous artificial intelligence.

  • Training the Next Generation of Space Cybersecurity Experts

    CT asked Scott Shackelford, Indiana University professor of law and director of the Ostrom Workshop Program on Cybersecurity and Internet Governance, about the possible emergence of space cybersecurity as a separate field that would support changing practices and foster future space cybersecurity leaders.

  • abstract pattern of cybersecurity, ai and cloud imagery

    OpenAI Report Identifies Malicious Use of AI in Cloud-Based Cyber Threats

    A report from OpenAI identifies the misuse of artificial intelligence in cybercrime, social engineering, and influence operations, particularly those targeting or operating through cloud infrastructure. In "Disrupting Malicious Uses of AI: June 2025," the company outlines how threat actors are weaponizing large language models for malicious ends — and how OpenAI is pushing back.