The charts below give the results of the internet usage survey conducted last semester. A total of 1397 people responded, of which the majority (62%) were undergraduates. This article is best read in tandem with our interview with Prof. Nitin Chandrachoodan, the faculty member in charge of the campus network.
The survey yielded some predictable results, and some surprises. Predictably, the results demonstrate that the internet has become an integral and inalienable part of our lives. To most (but, surprisingly, not all, or even nearly all) people, the LAN-ban is an annoyance. Piracy is commonplace, but Facebook addiction, the numbers would indicate, is not.
Which programme of study are you enrolled in?
Which year of study at IITM are you in?
Gender
On a weekday, how many hours do you use Institute provided internet access?
While 72% of respondents use internet access for more than 3 hours a day, only 35% use it for academic purposes for more than 3 hours. While unsurprising, this finding runs contrary to the institute’s stated aim of providing access purely for academic purposes.
Per day in a weekend, how many hours do you use Institute provided internet access?
How many hours do you use institute internet access for academic purposes in a day, on an average?
Do you agree with the institute’s policy of limiting internet access on weekdays?
The LAN ban is commonly thought to be a move that has no support from the student body, but the responses to the survey showed that a surprisingly large fraction (20%) of students supports the institute’s policy of limiting internet access on weekdays for academic and health-related issues. Those against the policy claim it interferes with their work and are not convinced by the reasoning behind it.
If yes, why?
|
Helps in ensuring I attend morning classes |
142 |
|
Cuts down on distractions such as gaming into the night |
152 |
|
Promotes a healthy sleep cycle |
246 |
|
Other |
12 |
If no, why?
|
Interferes with academics/research |
726 |
|
Motivation behind limiting access is not convincing |
457 |
|
I work, play, sleep when I want, not when the institute decides |
436 |
|
Other |
76 |
Again, if no, when would you like access to be provided?
|
8 a.m. to 2 p.m. |
624 |
|
12 midnight to 5 a.m. |
547 |
|
On weekdays which are holidays |
618 |
How often do you access research publications using IITM’s access?
44% of respondents rarely or never use the access to research publications provided by the institute. It should be noted, however, that percentages for this question differ significantly among undergraduates and postgraduates, with a figure of 62% for the former but only 13% for the latter.
|
Never needed to |
195 |
14% |
|
I didn’t know I could |
161 |
12% |
|
Rarely (Once in a few months) |
253 |
18% |
|
Often (Once in a few weeks) |
345 |
25% |
|
Every few days |
443 |
32% |
How many hours do you spend on Facebook in a day, on an average? (Using institute net)
A whopping 80% claim they access Facebook for less than an hour per day, which is the exact opposite of what Dr. Nitin says. The most probable cause for this mismatch in the numbers is that people leave their Facebook tabs open even when not actively using it, thus still consuming bandwidth.
How often do you access pirated media (books, movies etc.) via the institute internet or peer-to-peer networks?
Also, making Dr. Nitin’s advice on piracy even more pertinent is the fact that 82% of respondents have at some time accessed pirated material in the institute and 49% of the total do so regularly. This is worrying and a cause for some reflection on our regular, unthinking flouting of copyright laws.
|
Never |
252 |
18% |
|
Rarely (Once in a few months) |
450 |
32% |
|
Often (Once in a few weeks) |
409 |
29% |
|
Every few days |
286 |
20% |
How many personal devices do you use to access institute internet?
