世論 What Japan Thinks

Having just translated a look at GPS functionality according to JR Tokai Express Research, along comes another survey by NEPRO JAPAN also on Global Positioning System (GPS) functionality, conducted by means of a public survey made available through the menuing systems of DoCoMo iMode, Yahoo! Keitai, and au EZweb mobile phone portal sites, available over the 8th and 9th of March.

Demographics

3,897 people self-selected themselves; 58% were female, 3% in their teens, 37% in their twenties, 43% in their thirties, and 17% aged 40 or older.

Note than in the previous survey about 21% said they had used mobile phone GPS functionality, but here 30% had. The difference can perhaps be explained by the fact that this age group was younger, self-selecting, and conducted through mobile phones rather than PC internet, therefore this survey would most likely attract a higher percentage of people with newer phones, thus more GPS users.

Research results

Q1: Have you ever used mobile phone GPS features? (Sample size=3,897)

Yes	30%
No, but would like to	34%
No, and don’t know how to use	19%
No, and not interested	17%

Q2: Do you know that from April 1st 2007 all new mobile phones must have GPS functionality? (Sample size=3,897)

Yes	14%
No	86%

Q3: Do you know that from April 1st 2007 when one calls the emergency services from mobile phones with GPS functionality the date and time, your mobile phone number, and location will be automatically transmitted to them? (Sample size=3,897)

Yes	19%
No	81%

Q4: Have you ever called the emergency services from a mobile phone? (Sample size=3,897)

No	71%
Yes, once	16%
Yes, two or three times	11%
Yes, four to six times	1%
Yes, seven or more times	1%

Q5: Do you think mobile phone GPS functionality infringes on privacy? (Sample size=3,897)

Really think so	9%
Think so a little	37%
Can’t say either way	34%
Don’t really think so	12%
Don’t think so at all	8%

When asked why they thought mobile phone GPS infringed privacy, some of the answers included “I worry whether a stalker, etc, couldn’t abuse it” (F, 26-30), “I think it’s needed in emergency situations, but one doesn’t usually need to be constantly monitored” (F, 31-35) and “It’s needed to confirm children are safe, but it can infringe the privacy of adults” (M, 21-25).