Net & everyday US life

The Internet may be a little more than icing to Americans' everyday lives, but it hasn't changed the cake. In a major multi-year study, the Pew Internet & American Live project found that "the vast majority of online Americans say the Internet plays a role in their daily routines and that the rhythm of their everyday lives would be affected if they could no longer go online. Yet, despite its great popularity and allure, the Internet still plays second fiddle to old-fashioned habits." Some key findings: "88% of online Americans say the Internet plays a role in their daily routines. Of those, one-third say it plays a major role, and two-thirds say it plays a minor role. The activities they identified as most significant are communicating with family and friends and finding a wealth of information at their fingertips." Here's coverage from the San Jose Mercury News and MSNBC.