We recently included several winning Top Question Tuesday selections on an interactive poll. Stay tuned to this blog as we’ll be releasing the results over the next several weeks! And don’t forget to submit your own nominations for Top Question Tuesday using the box on the right of this blog.

One question we asked concerned respondents’ feelings about a potential link between cell phones and cancer.  The question noted that “some scientists suggest there is no link between cell phone usage and cancer, while other scientists argue there is a link. How concerned are you that long-term cell phone usage can cause cancer?”.

Overall, 42% of the sample was concerned (10% very concerned, 32% somewhat concerned), and 56% of the sample was not concerned (36% not very concerned, 20% not at all concerned).  Young people were slightly more average than likely to not be concerned, with 62% of those 18-29 saying they were not very or not at all  that long-term cellphone usage can cause cancer. Those who described themselves as very cosnservative were also more likely than average to not be concerned, with 63% of this group saying they were not very or not at all concerned.

Liberals (46% ) and  females (45%) were the  few groups that were more likely than other groups to be concerned about links between cellphones and cancer.  However, even these two groups had the majority of their respondents say they were not concerned.

How concerned are you about a potential link between cell phones and cancer? How about concern for your kids, many of whom may have had cell phones since a young age?  Do you believe the scientific evidence is currently strong enough to either prove or disprove a connection?

Katy health, technology elections, health, lifestyle, technology, Top Question Tuesday

In a recent Zogby interactive survey, we asked the respondents how they stay in touch with their family and friends both near and far. Here are the results. 

When we asked, “which one method is your favorite for keeping in contact with family and friends who live in the same geographic area as you live?” the top five choices are:

• Landline conversation (25%)
• Cellphone/Smartphone conversations (24%)
• Email (23%)
• Cellphone/Smartphone texting (13%)
• Facebook (10%). 

When we asked, “which one method is your favorite for keeping in contact with friends and family who live outside the geographic area where you live?” the ranking above changed to:

• Email (39%)
• Facebook (24%)
• Cellphone/Smartphone conversations (13%)
• Landline conversation (13%)
• Cellphone/Smartphone texting (6%)

Facebook made the top-5 list in both cases. Groups that prefer to stay in touch with their family and friends through Facebook are the 18-to-29 year olds (53%), respondents who do not own a house (43%), those who have a child under 17 years old (41%), and those living in small cities. Groups that are least likely to use Facebook as their favorite method for keeping in touch with friends and family are respondents who live in rural areas (16%), those over 50 years old (7%), and respondents who are divorced, separated or widowed (11%).

How do you stay connected with your friends and family? Which of the methods above is your favorite? Do you use Facebook and texting a lot to keep your friends and family updated? How frequently do you use them?

Grace Uncategorized, communication, internet, lifestyles, technology zogby

Some media outlets have recently reported that conservative groups have been more successful in utilizing twitter than liberal groups. This comes in contrast to recent history, where liberal bloggers and online communities have been thought to have played an instrumental role in the election of President Obama. On this view, the success of a political platform is, at least to some extent, due to new technology.

However, one can look at this from a different angle: the recent success of conservatives tweets may be due to a consolidation of conservative opposition to the administration policies. Likewise, it was a wide discontent with the Bush administration that lead to victory for Democrats, and the effects of new media were incidental to those more fundamental changes.

What is your view of the role of technology in political change? Are new technologies primarily a cause or effect of the rise and fall of political ideas?

Zeljka future, internet, media, politics, technology history, media, Obama, technology, twitter

When President Barack Obama announced new auto fuel standards on Tuesday requiring new cars and light trucks to get on average 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016, almost 40% more fuel-efficient than current requirements,  makers of electric cars had to be happy.

The Chevy Volt, which the company calls an “extended-range electric vehicle” that travel its first 40 miles on electricity before burning any gas, is supposed to launch next year.  On May 6, Ford said it would put up hundreds of billions to convert an SUV plant into one that would roll out battery-electric versions of the Focus. Mitsubishi has a 2012 U.S. release date for plans its electric i-MiEV.  Toyota plans to sell an electric Prius by 2012. Nissan hopes to beat Volt to the U.S. market with its own electric vehicle.

Saving the environment will have its costs. The Obama Administration estimates the added cost of the new standards per vehicle will be $600, added to the estimated $700 per vehicle attributed to the current CAFE program. It is also saying that the extra cost will be offset by fuel savings, but that obviously depends on how much and where you drive.

Then there is the cost of electric vehicles. GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz said on CBS’ Late Night with David Letterman that the Volt will cost about $32,500 after rebates. (Sticker price $40,000.)

Will you be ready to buy an electric car? How about other consumers?

Paul environment, future, technology environment, media, Obama, travel