SoylentNews

janrinok writes:

Airlines have seen almost no increase [techhive.com] in the use of smartphones, tablets, and laptops among passengers since the Federal Aviation Administration ruled in October that they are now allowed to do so during takeoff and landing, a recent study found.

Over a four month period observed by DePaul University's Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development this year, 35.9 percent of passengers used mobile devices at any point during the flight, USA Today reported. In last year's study, while flight attendants still patrolled the aisles for devices that hadn't been shut off, 35.3 percent of passengers used devices during flight.

Such a negligible increase is a bit surprising given that passengers no longer need to worry about whether they'll have to turn off their devices before take-off or landing. But these patterns were observed just months after the FAA made the announcement. People are likely either just stuck in their ways or unaware of the rule change.

---

Original Submission