Very interesting article from eMarketer today concerning At-Work Internet Usage.   It made me think of how I use the Internet for work, both “at work” and doing “work” at home.

To quickly summarize the report with a few facts:

• US At-Work internet users break down on gender lines 54% Male, 46% Female.
• 2/3 of employed adults use the Internet and email at their workplace.
• 18% do work from home every day or nearly every day.

So then you get the charts below, the first is what I would think as technology as a whole:

This chart is mobile devices:

Bunch of cool stuff, but what does it really mean to your LIFE?

To me, I see that the Internet has provided efficiencies in business work.  The easy of research with the Internet is amazing.  I remember as a product/marketing manager in the early 1990′s, if I had to do a competitive analysis, I had to get physical marketing material from my competitors.  For me, those were the days of the trade show circuit and look at trade magazines.  Now, I am a simple Google search away for almost every bit of market data I need.  That is the good.  If you can think it, you can search it!

Now the bad, I never leave work.  Sure, I physically get in my car and drive home.  Fortunately, or unfortunately that amazing little iPhone is my tether to work.  It’s like a bungee cord, we can only go so far away from our physical work, before we are pulled back in.  I really believe that this creates a creative thinking drain.  When your mind can’t get a break, you can have issues with your performance.  Not to mention just your quality of life.

The ugly of the Internet at work (and home) is information overload.  We have so much information at our fingertips that you can lose focus.  That is going to lead ultimately to being less productive.  The spinning your wheels effect.

So, the Internet is your friend, but like a good friend, if you spend too much time with it, it will become annoying.  Be careful bring your work home with you.  Cut the cord when ever you can!   Play with your kids, talk to your wife or husband, go over and ask your neighbors how they are doing.  Don’t let the Internet be the TV of the ’80′s and ’90′s – get out from in front of the it!

Random thoughts:

• Went to the Reds game last night (thank you UPS).  Great time.  Phil Castellini presented the new spring training facility in Arizona.  Very impressive.  If you are a Reds fan, you really will love what they are doing.  Met Tracy Jones, seems like a great guy.
• Speaking of the Reds, they won – which was good.  I don’t understand why they cannot get a better crowd to the games.  I understand that the team is not doing great, but the Reds organization is very fan friendly.  The ball park is wonderful, not a bad seat in the house.  Plus, you can get a seat for $5 – that’s not bad!  Go to a game and enjoy!
• Glad also to see the Phillies won last night.  Hoping they get back on a winning roll.
• Very glad to see the report on the new jobless claims dropped more than expected.  Good sign.
• Who is Victoria Beckham?  Guess the folks at American Idol wanted Paula out….

Chris Reighley is an eCommerce marketing professional, online consumer behavior expert and social marketing evangelist. He is currently working on a PhD in eCommerce for Northcentral University in Prescott Valley, Arizona.  Chris owned and operated many ecommerce retail stores in the music, golf and health & beauty categories.  Currently Chris is the Director of eCommerce at FillTek in Cincinnati, Ohio where he works with online retailers such as Hugo Boss, Tretorn, Tommy Hilfiger and Bluefly.