COMPUTER USERS
Do you use a computer, or not?

Yes, use computer                         43%
No, do not use computer                   57%


WHERE THEY GO
Do you use your computer to 
                                         USE   DO NOT USE
Access an online service such as 
America Online or CompuServe             27%        73%
Access the Internet
   or World Wide Web                     48%        52%


WHAT THEY DO 
Thinking about what you do online, how often do you use the Internet,
World Wide Web, or an online service for:

                              OFTEN   SOMETIMES   RARELY   NEVER
Research                       50%         32%         10%        8%
Education                      37%         38%         15%       10%
Entertainment                  31%         30%         16%       23%
News                           30%         39%         14%       17%
Hobbies                        18%         34%         17%       31%
Game-playing                   14%         18%         18%       50%
Obtaining information about
 computers or software         13%         32%         31%       24%
Socializing                    13%         12%         24%       51%
Investing                      12%         16%         18%       54%
Shopping                        1%          9%         26%       64%


WHO `SURFS'         
When online, are you more likely to ``surf'' or do you visit the same
group of sites regularly? 

Surf                                      39%
Visit same sites                          57%
Don't know/refused                         4%


WHO THEY TALK TO
Do you use your computer to interact with other people via...

                                  USE    DO NOT USE   DON'T KNOW
E-mail                            89%         11%            0%
Chat groups                       26%         74%            0%
Conferences or forums             20%         80%            0%
Listservs or E-mail lists         21%         75%            4%
MUDs/MOOs                          5%         88%            7%


WHERE THEY FIND THEM
When you interact with others online, do you most prefer: E-mail,
chat groups, conferences or forums, listservs, MUDs/MOOs, or
something else?

E-mail                 83%      Listservs               3%
Chat Groups             9%      MUDs/MOOs               0%
Conferences or                  Interactive games       0%
   forums               3%      Other                   2%


EXPERT OPINIONS
When you interact with others online, who do you prefer to interact
with: subject experts, nonexperts who share your interests, people
willing to chat about a broad range of topics, or someone else?

Subject Experts            27%     Someone else      36%
Nonexperts                 15%     Don't know         3%
People w/broad range       19%


TO CHAT OR NOT TO CHAT
Do you prefer sites where you can interact with other people or do
you prefer sites where you obtain information without interacting
with other people?

Prefer interactive sites        18%
Prefer noninteractive sites     77%
Don't know                       5%


COMMUNITY FEELING
If you interact via chat groups or listservs, do you think of
yourself and others who participate in your listserv or chat group
as members of an online community, or not?

Yes, part of community              57%
No, not part of community           43%


SOCIAL OR PROFESSIONAL?
What term best describes the community you participate most in?

The community is a social group           35%
The community is a professional group     42%
The community is a hobby group            18%
None of above                              2%
Some of above                              2%


WHAT THEY TALK ABOUT
When you interact with others online, how often do you choose
interactions about:

                      OFTEN   SOMETIMES    RARELY  NEVER
Computers or software   14%        29%          23%      34%
Education               18%        42%          17%      23%
Entertainment           15%        30%          23%      32%
Game-playing            12%        12%          20%      56%
Hobbies                 13%        36%          17%      34%
Investing               10%        12%          22%      56%
News                    18%        35%          19%      28%
Research                26%        38%          17%      19%
Shopping                 1%         7%          23%      69%
Socializing             18%        25%          22%      35%


MOST DON'T BUY
Have you ever used the Internet, World Wide Web, or online service
to purchase anything, or not?

Have purchased           24%
Have not                 76%


ADS CATCH THE EYE
Thinking of when you are on the Internet, World Wide Web, or online
service, have you seen or noticed any advertising for products or
services, or not?

Have seen ads            83%
Have not seen ads        17%


Survey of 1,003 adults, including 259 Internet/World Wide Web users,
with a sampling error of +/-3%. Interviews were conducted April
11-16, 1997, for BUSINESS WEEK by Louis Harris & Associates Inc.
and Baruch College of the City University of New York

Edited by Keith Hammonds