Nearly 15,000 Sailors chosen at random have been asked to share their thoughts on telework and technology through the first Navy Telework and Technology Survey, available now through mid-January.

The survey, which is being conducted by the Navy Personnel Research, Studies, and Technology (NPRST) division, asks Sailors to voluntarily provide their opinions regarding teleworking and their use of various technologies that might be used to telework. Telework is an important component of the Navy’s life/work balance efforts that are being promoted by Task Force Life/Work.

Key technologies being explored in the survey include handheld devices such as cell phones, iPods, and digital cameras, as well as traditional computer-based technologies such as the Internet and social networking. As part of the survey, respondents may choose to participate in the first Navywide survey through cell phones, which expands on a recent text message survey conducted with Navy recruiters.

“Surveying Sailors regarding their use of text messaging and other technology is cutting edge, innovative, and exciting research. With text messaging we are able to collect meaningful data in a flash,” said Dr. Paul Rosenfeld, head of the Institute for Organizational Assessment at NPRST.

NPRST exists to help the Navy better recruit, select, classify, train, manage, assign, and care for its people by employing a unique blend of innovative scientific and functional expertise. NPRST investigates, develops, and validates new technologies, methods, and business processes to improve the readiness, performance, and quality of life of Sailors and Marines.

US Navy