School kids laden with technology
06/05/2010
One in three WA school students (35 per cent) are taking mobile phones, laptops and MP3 players to school, new research by SGIO has revealed.
The research also showed that 80 per cent of parents whose children took technology to school worried about their kids being victims of theft.
SGIO spokesperson Rob Cory said children's appetite for technology outstripped that of many of their parents.
"One in three WA parents (32 per cent) said their kids used more technology than they did," he said.
"Kids can be really attached to their portable technology but they can be in situations or locations where it may be lost or stolen, such as school or sport events, and it’s expensive to replace."
Adults, too, now carry a valuable stash of technology when they leave home with one in seven of us having accidentally left a mobile phone, laptop or MP3 player on public transport or in a café.*
"Many of us head off each day with our laptop in our hands, MP3 player in our ears, mobile phone in our pocket and digital camera in our bag," Mr Cory said.
"It's an emerging insurance issue and we want to make sure people are covered should they or their kids lose their technology or have it stolen."
SGIO recommends consumers take up portable valuables cover for expensive technology taken out of the home. Mr Cory said the WA insurer had seen steady interest from customers for cover portable technology.
“Technology is an integral part of our lives at school, work or at home – and eight out of ten homes have one or more MP3s and 99 per cent have a computer or laptop*.
“Given this increasing obsession with technology, we want to remind households to make sure their items are covered,” Mr Cory said.
* Based on Pure Profile Research in October 2009 and February 2010.