The Omnivorous Ant
According to the results of the Pew Internet & American Life survey, I'm a Technological Omnivore:
Basic Description
Members of this group use their extensive suite of technology tools to do an enormous range of things online, on the go, and with their cell phones. Omnivores are highly engaged with video online and digital content. Between blogging, maintaining their Web pages, remixing digital content, or posting their creations to their websites, they are creative participants in cyberspace.
Defining CharacteristicsYou might see them watching video on an iPod. They might talk about their video games or their participation in virtual worlds the way their parents talked about their favorite TV episode a generation ago. Much of this chatter will take place via instant messages, texting on a cell phone, or on personal blogs. Omnivores are particularly active in dealing with video content. Most have video or digital cameras, and most have tried watching TV on a non-television device, such as a laptop or a cell phone.
Omnivores embrace all this connectivity, feeling confident in how they manage information and their many devices. This puts information technology at the center of how they express themselves, do their jobs, and connect to their friends.
Who They Are
They are young, ethnically diverse, and mostly male (70%). The median age is 28; just more than half of them are under age 30, versus one in five in the general population. Over half are white (64%) and 11% are black (compared to 12% in the general population). English-speaking Hispanics make up 18% of this group. Perhaps unsurprisingly, many (42% versus the 13% average) of Omnivores are students.
The Pew researchers define ten categories along the tech consumption spectrum, ranging from the aforementioned "Omnivores" to those who are "Off the Network," the latter being quite content to rely exclusively on "old media." You can download the entire Pew report in PDF format.
I can't argue with most of the Omnivore description as it applies to me (other than being almost twice the median age, and not a student [at least, not in the traditional sense]). However, I tend to disagree with the interpretation put forth by Ask The Propeller Heads, from whom I discovered this survey via their column in our local newspaper.
They refer to "Omnivores" as "alpha geeks" who "love technology for technology's sake." That's not me; if it doesn't do a job for me, I'm not interested, except perhaps intellectually. I don't own a Tivo, my cell phone won't talk to the Interweb, I rarely use the Terminal window of my Mac, I enjoy the treeware versions of newspapers, and I don't have a webcam (yet). But I firmly believe that technology has helped me do a better job (OK, it is my job, but, still...) and connect better with family, friends and associates.
See, only an Alpha Geek could make a joke like that. ;-)
'Course, one might say that only an AG would get it, too.
Posted by: Eric at June 12, 2007 10:54 AMTurns out I'm an Omnivore as well. So...that probably explains why we're the only two people laughing right now.
Now if you'll excuse me, my waistband needs to be hitched up a little higher and the tape on my glasses needs replacement.
Posted by: beth at June 12, 2007 01:44 PMNot to be a copycat but guess what I am...yes that's right - An Omnivore!
:)

I would think that you'd be more likely to be a Beta geek than an "alpha geek" if you were always looking for the latest and greatest. Very few people make public alpha releases anymore. :)
Posted by: beth at June 12, 2007 10:01 AM