THE UTILITY OF HOME COMPUTERS AND MEDIA USE - IMPLICATIONS OF MULTIMEDIA AND CONNECTIVITY

This study applied the uses and gratifications perspective to home com puter use. We explored how CD-ROM ownership and Internet capability we re linked to computer utility among a random national telephone survey of 1071 adults. Users found modest utility in home computers for ente rtainment, escape, habit, and to pass time. CD-ROM ownership was linke d to learning and escape utility. Higher levels of connectivity were r eflected in using computers for entertainment and to pass time.