MEDIA-I: Asia poised to dominate tech sector

<p>HONG KONG: A wide-ranging study of tech-savvy consumers around the </p><p>world has found that the technological power base will shift from the </p><p>United States to Asia-Pacific in the long-term. But, a significant </p><p>number of global respondents fear technology will overwhelm people's </p><p>lives. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>The research - Wired and Wireless - by Euro RSCG found that 52 per cent </p><p>of British respondents and 36 per cent and 30 per cent of their </p><p>Asia-Pacific and American counterparts respectively believed that the </p><p>American domination of the internet will soon be over. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>More significantly, 37 per cent of the global sample believe that </p><p>Asia-Pacific will be the world's high-tech leader by 2025, compared with </p><p>25 per cent who cited North America. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>However, while respondents generally stated that technology will enhance </p><p>their home and business lives, there was also a fear that robots will </p><p>take over the human thinking process. Twelve per cent of those who took </p><p>part in the study agreed with the statement: "Technology is harming our </p><p>sense of humanity". </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>These fears are more pronounced in Asia. About a quarter of Hong Kong </p><p>and Shanghai respondents agreed somewhat or completely that in the </p><p>long-term, technology will be a negative force in society, compared with </p><p>16.5 per cent globally. In addition, 47 per cent of Shanghai respondents </p><p>and 38 per cent of their Hong Kong counterparts worry that computers </p><p>will grow too powerful for people to control, compared with 26 per cent </p><p>worldwide. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Euro Hong Kong managing director David Morgan said the survey underlined </p><p>the fact that advertisers and their agencies have to assuage people's </p><p>fears. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>"Creativity and strategy is about understanding how people think. </p><p>Managing people's perceptions is what it's all about. It's not about </p><p>deception but about highlighting the benefits which I think in the long </p><p>term will outweigh the negativities people fear," he said. Morgan added </p><p>that developing and maintaining relationships with consumers will be </p><p>more important than today. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>TECHNOLOGY SCARES ME </p><p> Hong Kong Singapore Shanghai Total </p><p>Disagree completely 44% 40% 37% 57% </p><p>Disagree somewhat 21% 21% 25% 19% </p><p>Ambivalent 19% 23% 23% 15% </p><p>Agree somewhat 12.5% 10% 13% 7% </p><p>Agree completely 4% 6% 2% 2% </p><p><BR><BR> </p>