The PC: Your New Significant Other

According to a new study by independent research firm Kelton Research, 65 percent of American consumers are spending more time with a computer than with their significant other. The study was commissioned by SupportSoft and support.com.

The "Cyber Stress" study confirmed that Americans continue to have a growing "relationship" with technology. Eighty-four percent of those surveyed say they are more dependent on their home computer now than they were just three years ago.

"One thing I've seen more and more is the younger generation spending a whole lot of time on computers," said David Lewis, a computer science professor at the Navarro College Waxahachie campus. "I bet studies would show it's affecting their study times and such as well as their relationships. Computers are great if it's used right. You have a world of information at your fingertips with computers, but it's an addictive thing.

Adding to the everyday time spent on computers is the frustration of time spent making repairs to computer hardware and software.

"Unfortunately in the case of their computers, things aren't going so well for Americans," said Josh Pickus, CEO of SupportSoft. "For these reasons, we will be launching support.com, a service that speaks to consumers without talking down to them and uses proven, patented technology to resolve their frustrating computer problems - guaranteed."

According to the survey:

The average consumer has experienced computer troubles eight times - about every four months - over the last three years. The average American is wasting 12 hours per month - the equivalent of half a weekend - due to problems with their home computer.

A majority of Americans (52 percent) describe their most recent experience with a computer problem as one of anger, sadness or alienation.

"I could see how computers would cause some problems from a number of angles," Lewis said. "It may be frustrating to people if they know just enough to get by but not a whole lot more. If your printer doesn't work and you don't know the basics of how to fix it - it can be a huge frustration. Even calling tech support can be very frustrating. If you've worked with computers for a long time you know just turning the computer off and back on helps 90 percent of the time. But to a novice it may not be easy to understand."

As Americans spend more time on their computer as the survey suggests, they're spending much less time with their spouses.

"An increase in solitary computer time equals a decrease in positive interactive time," Roxanne Wyckoff, LCW, who practices in Waxahachie, said. "Computer time increases the potential to decrease intimacy both physically and emotionally. Parents need to be role models for their children and for children to have positive future relationships they need to see parents interacting and engaging one another. Time on the computer decreases that positive interaction time."

SupportSoft's "Cyber Stress" study was conducted between December 2006 and January 2007 and involved 1001 nationally representative Americans age 18 and older with PCs and broadband Internet access.

The survey results indicate a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percent at a 95 percent confidence level.

I gave my 80 year old grandfather my old computer about a year ago. He now has high blood pressure issues.