Access to information processing tools: an exploratory study

An exploratory field study which examined users´ perception of the dimensions of PC availability and of the impact of various levels of PC availability on usage is presented. The interviews yielded the following observations: (1) user uncertainty concerning PC availability influences usage behavior more than objective measures of PC availability; (2) users believe that uninterrupted access to PC leads to substantially greater PC usage; and (3) location and portability are important dimensions of availability, particularly when users conduct much of their work away from their home base