American adults trail adults in China, India, and South Korea when it comes to living a “visual life,” according to a new study. Intel Corp. revealed during the 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) the results of a recent “Visual Life” study conducted online by Harris Interactive.

Harris Interactive personnel conducted the global study online in November 2010 on behalf of Intel, surveying 5,115 adults aged between 16 and 64 within China, Germany, India, and South Korea and 2,019 adults aged 18 and older in the United States. For the purposes of the study, visual experiences were defined by creating, documenting, sharing, viewing, and otherwise living life through visuals, including pictures, videos, stories, online posts, online communities, blogs, art, entertainment, e-mails, and letters.

Intel’s “visual life” survey revealed some interesting findings on consumers’ visual habits throughout the globe.

Movies
Adults in the U.S. and Germany watch movies on TV a majority of the time, whereas a larger proportion of adults in China and India view movies on computers.

Among adults who watch movies in the United States

• 75 percent view a majority of movies on TV (including via video/DVD, rentals, subscription services, or cable/satellite providers)
• 10 percent view a majority of movies at a cinema/movie theater
• 7 percent view a majority of movies on computers

Among adults who watch movies in China

• 65 percent view a majority of movies on computers
• 20 percent view a majority of movies on TV
• 7 percent view a majority of movies at a cinema/movie theater

Among adults who watch movies in Germany

• 76 percent view a majority of movies on TV
• 10 percent view a majority of movies at the cinema/movie theater
• 8 percent view a majority of movies on computers

Among adults who watch movies in India

• 36 percent view a majority of movies on TV
• 28 percent view a majority of movies at a cinema/movie theater
• 27 view a majority of movies on computers

Among adults who watch movies in South Korea

• 37 percent view a majority of movies at a cinema/movie theater
• 34 percent view a majority of movies on computers
• 22 percent view a majority of movies on TV

Visual experiences
A smaller percentage of adults in the U.S. vs. in China, India, and South Korea have visual experiences, such as creating, documenting, sharing, viewing, and living life through visuals.

Percentage of adults who have visual experiences

• 99 percent in South Korea
• 99 percent in India
• 98 percent in China
• 93 percent in Germany
• 88 percent in the United States

Photos, entertainment, and e-mails
The adults polled were split as to whether photographs, entertainment, or e-mail message were the most integral element to their visual lives.

Among adults who have visual experiences, the most integral element to visual life is:

Photographs in the U.S. – 68 percent of U.S. adults who have visual experiences say photos of family and friends (posted online and physical photos) are the most integral element, more likely than adults in Germany (57 percent), China (55 percent), India (61 percent), and South Korea (58 percent).

Entertainment in China and South Korea – 71 percent of Chinese adults and 60 percent of South Korean adults who have visual experiences say entertainment (e.g., movies and TV) is the most integral element to how they live life through visual experiences.

E-mails – 70 percent of Indian adults and 60 percent of German adults who live life through visual experiences say e-mails are more integral to how they live life through visual experiences.

Sharing visual experiences
What criterion is most important to sharing visual experiences?

• Capturing a memory – according to 55 percent of American and German adults
• Quality of image – according to 68 percent of adults in China and 65 percent of adults in India
• Content and beauty of image – according to 55 percent of adults in South Korea

Creating visual experiences
Roughly half of adults globally create their own visual experiences.

• 47 percent of American adults and 50 percent of adults in China rely on a mix of creating their own visual experiences and relying on others to create them
• 57 percent of adults in Germany, 47 percent of adults in India, and 50 percent of adults in South Korea create their own visual experiences

Sharing visual experiences
Adults in China, India, and South Korea share their visual experiences more than those in the U.S.

Percentage of adults who share their visual experiences at least once a week

• 74 percent in China
• 75 percent in India
• 70 percent in South Korea

Percentage of adults who share their visual experiences less than once a month

• 40 percent in the U.S.
• 57 percent in Germany