In 1997, about 92 million or almost one-half (47%) of the nation's adults age 18 and over used computers, up significantly from 36% in 1993 and 18% in 1984. Thirty-four percent of black adults, 52% of whites, and 29% of Hispanics used computers in 1997, a large increase from 1993 when the corresponding rates were only 25% of blacks, 38% of whites, and 22% of Hispanics.

Overall, as of 1997, adults who used a computer were about equally likely to do so at work (64 million), as at home (56 million), whereas only 11 million used computers primarily at school. By contrast, blacks were much more likely to use computers at work (25% or 5.5 million) than at home (14% or 3.2 million), and so were Hispanics (20% at work and 13% at home). In contrast, whites were almost as likely to use computers at home (33%) as at work (36%).

About 33.5 million women (57%) used computers on the job in 1997. This was proportionately more than men (44%). Women were also more likely than men to use computers for word processing (60% vs 54%). In contrast, higher percentages of men than women used computers for analysis (34% versus 20%) or programming (20% versus 11%). Adults who used computers at home used them primarily for one or more of the following: word processing (71%), games (54%), and e-mail and communication (45%).

Blacks were more likely to use the Internet at home to take courses (44%) or for job searches (19%) than whites were (35% and 13%, respectively). Blacks were less likely than whites to use the Internet for
e-mail (68% versus 79%).

In 1997, a little more than half of all children (51% or 14.5 million) had access to a computer at home. This was up from 32% in 1993. Black (24%) and Hispanic (23%) children were much less likely to have a computer in the home than white children (62%).

Blacks and Hispanics (65% and 58% respectively) lagged noticeably behind whites (81%) in having any access to computers in at least one location. Furthermore, black (47%) and Hispanic (42%) children were more likely than white children (29%) to have access to computers only at school. Conversely, white children (12%) were about three times as likely as blacks and Hispanics (both 4%) to use computers only at home or to have access both at home and at school (40% compared to 15% of blacks and 25% of Hispanics).

About 14 million children ages 3 to 17 used the Internet in 1997. Of children enrolled in school, nine million (71%) accessed the Internet at school, and 7 million did so at home. Although 2 million children used the Internet at both home and school, more than half (7 million) of all children accessed the Internet only at school.

Black children were equally likely to use the Internet at home as at school (13%). In contrast, Hispanic and white children were more likely to use the Internet at home (16% and 23%) than at school (10% and 19%).

Public school students in grades K-12 were as likely as private school students to use computers at school (both 75%). However, public school students had a much lower rate of computer use at home (43%) than private school students (65%).

Children used the Internet at home to find government, business, health, or education information (76%); to send and receive e-mail (58%); to participate in chat rooms (32%); and to look for news, weather, and sports (28%).