An enormous majority of the British population feel stressed when their smartphones run out of juice, based on a survey conducted by Mophie.
Approximately 9 out of 10 or 92% of the 872 smartphone owners surveyed said they would feel stressed if their phone's battery died out on them and there is no charger nearby, says Mophie, a maker of smartphone cases that can extend a smartphone's battery life.
"Millions of people rely on their smartphones daily to stay in touch with loved ones and do work on the move. But all of these activities hinge on a single factor: having enough juice to keep the phones running," says Mophie spokesperson Kevin Malinowski.
Aside from stress, 6 out of 10 Brits or 61% of those surveyed said they would feel frustrated if their smartphones run out of battery, while some 25% reported they would feel panicked.
The research highlights our increasing dependence on smartphones, with 81% of those surveyed saying they've had a negative experience caused by a dead smartphone, such as missing an important call, making a loved one angry and losing access to much needed information. However, the biggest problem with a dead battery, according to 59% of those surveyed, is the inability to make and take calls.
Such is our continuing reliance on technology that almost half of those surveyed said they would only remember up to three phone numbers if their battery died out on them. Additionally, more than 70% said they would happily give up TV or their after-meal pudding if they can have a fully charged smartphone for an entire month.
Not surprisingly, a mobile phone is the second most important thing to have in case of a natural disaster, as per the results of the survey. It is only less important than water and comes ahead of food, a TV and a radio.
The Mophie report follows hot on the heels of a latest survey that shows four out of 10 teenagers in the U.K. believe they are addicted to the Internet.
"It may be that we all, adults and young people, need to impose boundaries on the way in which we use our digital devices," say [pdf] Barbie Clarke and Beth Hitchenor of Tablets for Schools, which conducted the addiction survey. "We might question whether it is a good idea to use devices late into the night, or take the device to bed. Importantly, it seems that a dialogue needs to take place between young people and the adults in their lives, be it in school or at home, about using the Internet safely, wisely and in a way which enhances their well-being."
