"Hourglass Syndrome" affects majority of Canadian students

Survey finds that 60 per cent of high school, college and university students experience stress related to computer speed

TORONTO, July 21 /CNW/ - The majority of Canadian high school, college and university students experience frustration and stress as a result of computer delays and slowness, according to a survey of more than 1,000 Canadian students conducted by Angus Reid Public Opinion and released today by Intel Canada. The survey findings show that upwards of 60 per cent of post-secondary students and more than half (55 per cent) of high school students experience this anxiety, which Intel coined the "hourglass syndrome", in reference to the waiting associated with the spinning hourglass that appears on the computer screen while a computer sluggishly processes information.

What's more, nearly one-in-five post-secondary students (19 per cent) suffer from "a lot of stress" as result of computer delays, sentiments that are echoed by 16 per cent of high school students. This can be attributed to the increasingly important role that the computer has on student success, with 88 per cent of post-secondary respondents and 64 per cent of high school students saying that their success at school is dependent on their computers. In fact, on average, post-secondary students spend more than 27 hours a week working on their computers, followed by high school students who spend more than 18 hours a week on their PCs.

"Results of this survey tell us that students need to do things faster than the technology available to them allows," says Doug Cooper, Country Manager, Intel Canada. "We all can appreciate that school is becoming more competitive. This survey shows that students are much more dependent on their computers to do school work and to stay connected with friends and family, therefore making the right technology investment is critical."

Students equipped with computers powered by a 2010 Intel(R) Core(TM) processor can avoid the effects of the Hourglass Syndrome thanks to a new feature called Intel(R) Turbo Boost Technology. With this new feature, the processor automatically adapts to an individual's performance needs giving the boost you need to speed up and saves energy when you don't, nearly eliminating the wait for some users.

Computer performance is important to students

Computer delays prevent students from doing other activities they enjoy, add stress and frustration to their lives and also jeopardize the quality of their school work. Upwards of 50 per cent of post-secondary students and more than 40 per cent of high school students indicate it takes them longer to complete school assignments because of home computer challenges. Thirty-nine per cent of post-secondary students and 27 per cent of high school students have lost work and had to start an assignment over due to home computer challenges.

"Students can feel a lot of stress and pressure from school responsibilities through the year," said Kathy Lynn, parenting speaker and author. "Computers become more important as students go further in their education. The unknown of going to a new school, studying new subjects, meeting teachers and classmates for the first time combined with not being equipped with the right technology can be quite stressful. By working together, families can help their children find the right tools and set the right expectation to reduce stress."

Survey respondents unanimously said that performance is the number one factor that will influence a new computer purchase. If the "hourglass syndrome" could be avoided, post-secondary students and high school students indicated different preferences on how they would like to spend their time. Some 39 per cent of post-secondary students prefer to use the time to relax, while 33 per cent of high school students said listening and downloading music was their preferred activity.

Interestingly, high school students and their college and university counterparts indicated different priorities for their computer use. Post-secondary students use their computer mostly for homework (22.1 per cent), while high school students use their computers most for social networking (30.8 per cent).

To determine the right technology for individuals needs, parents and students can refer to Intel Canada's interactive computer buying guide at: www.greatcomputing.ca

About the Angus Reid Public Opinion Survey

From June 4 to June 10, 2010, Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among 500 randomly selected Canadian college students who are Angus Reid Forum panelists, and 501 high school students. The margin of error-which measures sampling variability-is +/- 4.4%, 19 times out of 20. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a representative sample representative. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

About Intel

Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) is a world leader in computing innovation. The company designs and builds the essential technologies that serve as the foundation for the world's computing devices. Additional information about Intel is available at www.intel.com/pressroom and blogs.intel.com.

Intel and the Intel logo are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the United States and other countries.

For further information: Jeannie Tsang, Laura Noel Garcia, Hill & Knowlton for Intel Canada, Tel: [phone], [email protected], [email protected]