As pervasive as information and communications technologies are in modern society, there is a great deal of variation in what technologies people have, how they use them, and what they think of them. Many of us may know someone who is the first person on the block to get the latest gadget. He – and it’s more likely than not to be a male – is deep into technology, always upgrading to the latest thing, uploading digital content to the internet, and perhaps wondering about those who choose to live life in the technological slow lane. Others may follow along fairly closely in purchasing new devices or applications. Some of these folks may find this extra connectivity good. Others may not be so sure.

There are other varieties of ICT users. Some have little but like ICTs a lot; many of them convey a sense that they might do more with ICTs if they had more. Other users have a relative abundance of technology, but are unenthusiastic about the gadgetry they have accumulated. They might use email because they have to – perhaps they have friends or family members who have hectored them into having online access – but they could contentedly live their lives without the internet or a cell phone.

This report explores the patterns of adoption and use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) by developing a typology of users of these things. The typology places users into different categories depending on their technology assets (the information and communication appliances they use), their actions, (how they use their information devices and services), and their attitudes about ICTs (how they feel about information and communication technology).