Favour, opening, trust, objectivity and awareness. These are, in synthesis, the answers given by Italians in the Astra/Demoskopea study for Associazione Intel, promoter and organiser of the International fair Intel.

The survey, done on a sample of 1.000 people, representing Italian population between 14 and 79 years of age over 160 Italian municipalities, reveals a true and proper trend “revolution” compared to the first 90’s. If at that point in time 61% of adults could be defined technophobic, now 60% looks with interest and favour to technology in its shapes and applications.

Therefore, the advantages of technology into the everyday are, according to the interviewed, basically four: it cancels distances (73%); simplifies life (59%); reduces/eliminates exertion (56%); allows time saving (52%). One third of the interviewed population also maintains that it contributes to reduce product prices and levelling social differences. These are reasons that bring 46% of Italians to declare themselves fully favourable to technological investments, especially in the home environment and work places. 47%, believes in domotics (that is technologies destined to improve home quality and safety), with 69% sensitive to control and fire, gas leaks, water leakage, electric short-circuit-preventing applications, and so on, and 67% consider as a priority the guarantee of safety against thieves and aggressors, thus preferring theft-prevention devices, as well as against abusive entry, safety gates, etc.

There is more, however. Although still not in a leadership position, Italy can compete with Scandinavian countries, Great Britain, France, Germany and Holland both for competency in the technological research sector and for opening and purchasing power. In elaborating this evaluation, Astra was aided by the contribution of researches, conducted on a European level, of the Demoskopea network, on the level of technological liking of the interviewed sample compared to the standard of living and therefore, local purchasing power.

(Images are from Domus Tech Olivetti Group).