Prediction of future demand from current telecommunications uses in the home

Current ways of predicting future demand take no account of consumers' social environment or personal values about using telecommunications. This paper focuses on a new way of predicting future demand for the domestic market based on research which defines the values and behaviour around telecommunications in people's everyday lives. It points to values and behaviours which predict strong interest in new services. Those who welcome contact are interested in services which enhance communication and those who prefer to control access at home are more likely to choose new kinds of screening devices. The Telecommunications Needs Research Group (TNRG) aims to investigate human needs and uses of telecommunications in their social and cultural contexts, and to apply these findings to public policy and industry development. We wish to acknowledge the generous financial support of the Telstra Fund for Social and Policy Research.