Nearly half of internet users will own tablets in 2013, study says

Tablet computer adoption continues to move at an astounding rate. According to a study from the Online Publishers Association (OPA), 31 percent of US internet users currently own tablet computers, and by 2013, that number is expected to jump to 47 percent.

The study, which polled more than 2,500 internet users between the ages of 8 and 64, explores the ways users are interacting with their tablets and how the devices have influenced computing trends.

The OPA asserts that "tablet usage is exploding" as the devices have "become embedded in people's lives." The study also finds that the large majority of users are either "satisfied" or "very satisfied" with their devices, which mainly include iOS and Android™ tablets.

Breaking it down by demographic, the study shows that tablet owners tend to be older, "more balanced" males from affluent households. However, moving forward, the OPA expects the majority of tablet buyers to be women.

Research firm IDC has made similar predictions regarding the tablet's continued success. In a June 2012 study, IDC forecasts 107.4 million tablets will ship in 2012, a figure that is expected to grow to 222.1 million by 2016.