Work and play: The dual nature of tablets

For the last year and a half, tablet computers have been among the most talked-about technologies in both consumer and enterprise markets. However, the two markets aren't necessarily exclusive, as many owners are using their devices for both work and play.

An August 2011 study from Staples® Advantage, the business-to-business division of Staples, reveals that nearly 80 percent of tablet owners say the mobile devices have enabled them to improve the balance between their work and private lives.

On the business side, the majority of surveyed tablet owners say they enjoy increased productivity afforded by the convenience and portability of tablets. Meanwhile, the study also reveals that many tablet owners use their devices while lying in bed, at restaurants and even in the bathroom.

Additionally, 90 percent of survey respondents say tablets have supplemented other computing devices, while nearly 60 percent say they see tablets becoming their primary computing tool.

Other studies have highlighted the influence of tablets and how they change certain habits. For example, a study from research firm Chadwick Martin Bailey shows that 50 percent of tablet owners use their devices for gaming, while two-thirds watch movies on tablets.