Tech Complications Feed Canadian Frustration, Cheapflights.ca Survey Finds

TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - Apr 8, 2015) - "Why do you have to go and make things so complicated?" laments Avril Lavigne. It seems the same question might be asked of technology these days -- be it computers, GPS, mobile phones or apps. A recent survey by Cheapflights.ca reveals that 40 per cent of Canadians find themselves frustrated by overly complicated technology once a week or more. In fact, 10 per cent say it's a daily source of frustration.

Equally telling, just over 50 per cent of the 1,005 Canadians surveyed reported that they have yelled at or wanted to throw a tech toy. Perhaps this is one reason for the increase in screen repair services! And, the data shows, the experience is even worse online with 57 per cent saying they have sworn off a website or app because it is too complicated or annoying.

In fact, while Canadians named their computer or tablet as the one technology they would find it hardest to live without, they also said it was the one that frustrated them the most too. And don't think it's just a desktop thing. Mobile phones ranked second highest on the "can't live without" technology list, while mobile apps were the second most common source of technology frustration.

Canadians' love/hate relationship with technology is so strong that 25% of those surveyed indicated that tech has actually made life more complicated in the last five years.

"There's no doubt that technology has become a cornerstone of life, shaping everything from information sharing and entertainment to how we cook, what we drive and when and where we travel," said Samantha Otter, head of customer communications at Cheapflights. "However, while we seem to have a love/hate relationship with gadgets, technology for the sake of technology is in no one's best interest. The challenge we've embraced at Cheapflights as we launch our new Canadian site is to put simplicity at the centre of what we do. It begins with our name, but it's something that runs through everything we do. Our manifesto is 'easy-to-use technology for all', since 'straightforward and informative' is way less likely to get thrown across the room than 'cluttered and confusing'."

About Cheapflights.ca, part of the Momondo Group
Momondo Group is an online travel media and technology company that is driven by the belief that an open world is a better world. The group now serves travel search and inspiration to over 17.5 million visitors a month -- plus 7 million travel newsletter subscribers -- via its Cheapflights (www.cheapflights.ca) and momondo (www.momondo.com) brands.

Skygate began the sourcing of complex air-travel data in 1992, while Cheapflights pioneered the online comparison of flight deals for users in 1996 and momondo launched meta-search in the Nordic countries in 2006.

The Group has offices in London, Copenhagen and Boston with a consumer base across more than 30 core international markets but users all over the world.

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