Tablet use high among social and health sciences community

Educators in the social and health sciences community are evidently hooked on mobile technology, as a study from Springer Publishing Company finds the use of smartphones, tablet computers and e-readers is high among this group.

Smartphones are the most common of the three devices, used by 68 percent of the 1,000 survey respondents. One-third say they own tablet computers, while 32 percent own e-readers.

Reading is one of the most popular activities to perform on these mobile devices. According to the report, more than half of the educators polled say they read e-books on the devices both for leisure and for work. Thirty-nine percent say they have purchased e-books for work-related needs.

"These findings indicate the rapid growth of mobile technology use among those in the social and health sciences, as well as the growing demand for e-books and mobile applications that serve the professional development and reference needs of this population," says Springer Publisher vice president of digital business development Pascal Schwarzer.

Tablets and other mobile devices are becoming increasingly common in other professions as well. With the number of tablets sold expected to near 100 million in 2012, according to research firm IHS iSuppli, the technology's presence in both the private and public sectors will undoubtedly expand.