Home PCs ramp up family strife

A survey, commissioned by 3Com, showed that 67 per cent of home PC users reported rising levels of arguments, isolation, limited family time and increased pressure to work at home during free time as a result of owning a home PC.

According to the report, 60 percent of UK households have PCs, with the average person spending two hours a day using it, primarily for internet and e-mail.

The problems are not solved in homes with more than one computer. The 17 per cent of home PC owners with more than one computer in the house reported further problems, including arguments over printer priority and internet access, as well as poor family interaction.