Fully 78 percent of workers in the U.S. and Canada believe laptop computers and mobile phones increase their productivity, according to a recent survey sponsored by Kelly Services. In fact, it likely would come as a shock to most of us if the results showed anything but that.

 

Only two percent of respondents said it made them worse workers, the report said.

 

The positive opinion was shared across generations, including 75 percent of baby boomers, 79 percent of Generation X and 78 percent of Generation Y respondents.

 

More than seven in 10 workers from all countries considered the ability to work outside of the office a positive development. Fully 87 percent said an office telecommuting policy would be attractive to them as employees.

 

In addition, 30 percent in North America, 33 percent in Europe and 41 percent in the Asia-Pacific region agreed that they were working longer hours because of mobile communications.

 

Surveys conducted by the USC Annenberg School Center for the Digital Future from 2000 to 2007 show a increasing number of users feel the Internet has improved their productivity “a lot” or “somewhat.” In 2000, 57 percent felt that way, whereas in 2007, 71 percent said they thought the Internet improved their productivity.