LONDON, October 12, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Britons spend over NINE hours a day fiddling with gadgets, it was revealed yesterday (11th October).

The shock study of 3,000 men and women shows most are so reliant on modern technology they use it from the minute they get up until the minute they go to bed.

Incredibly, the average person spends a minimum of four solid hours on the computer, and a further one hour and 34 minutes on the laptop every day.

In addition they will surf the net, text, email and use social media on their smart phones for another 56 minutes daily.

Computer games take up another 38 minutes of the average person's day, while the same amount of time will be spent using an ordinary mobile phone and the mp3 player.

Stephen Ebbett from www.protectyourbubble.com, which commissioned the research said: We all know that modern technology plays an important part in everyday life, but it is incredible to think that so many hours are spent using gadgets.

The average person probably isn't even awake for much longer than 16 hours a day, and more than half of that time is completely dominated by gizmos.

The fact is that many of the electrical appliances used regularly - such as the computer, washing machine and microwave - are both necessary and time saving. So we might spend a few minutes fiddling with them, but they continue to work and carry out tasks for us even when we're busy doing something else.

The poll shows Brits spend another five minutes setting up the sat nav every day, and 16 minutes switching channels on the television.

Ten minutes are usually dedicated to setting up the Sky Plus, Tevo or Virgin Catch Up to ensure favourite programmes are saved.

And eight minutes will be used up when tinkering with the washing machine, while a further minute is spent setting the clock alarm each morning and night.

But despite relying on gadgets to get them through the day, only a quarter of folk reckon they are totally obsessed with them. And 61 per cent say they are surprised at how much they depend on modern technology.

Seven in 10 Brits frequently use more than one gadget at a time - often sitting in front of the TV, working on the laptop and checking the mobile phone all at the same time.

And 47 per cent of people find it unbelievable when they come across someone who doesn't own a smart phone or laptop or other gadget they consider essential for every day life.

Eight in 10 people are agreed that modern gadgets save them loads of time, and 70 per cent dread the thought of any of their gizmos breaking or getting lost. Astonishingly, 12 per cent of Brits have even been known to dream about their gadgets on occasion.

GADGET TIME Microwave - 10 minutes Computer - 4 hours 5 minutes Laptop - 1 hour 34 minutes Smart phone - 56 minutes Mobile phone - 38 minutes MP3 player - 38 minutes Sat Nav - 5 minutes Television - 16 minutes Sky Plus - 10 minutes Computer games - 38 minutes Clock radio - 1 minute Washing machine - 8 minutes TOTAL = 9 HOURS 19 MINUTES

Notes to editors

Other than iPhone insurance packages, Protect your bubble also offers gadget insurance on cameras, camcorders, notebooks, Blackberry devices, iPods, iPads mobile phones, game consoles, MP3 players, PC's, PDA's, Macbooks and satnavs from GBP1.49 a month.

About Protect your bubble

http://www.protectyourbubble.com is an online insurance provider trying to make personal insurance simple, easy and uncomplicated - from buying a policy to making a claim. It currently offers gadget, travel, personal emergency, home emergency, car, life, car hire, home and pet insurance.

SOURCE: Protect your bubble

CONTACT: Contact: Stephen Ebbett, Marketing, Protect your bubble,+44-(0)1772-5118-86, Email: stephen.ebbett@protectyourbubble.com