Drowning in Digital Deluge — Too Many Consumers Are Overwhelmed By Managing Digital Photos

CreativePro Staff

The popularity of digital photography is evident by booming camera sales and the growing number of images stored and shared online each year. But with all of these images being stored on PCs, CDs/DVDs, and on the Web, it’s no wonder 55% of consumers feel that managing and organizing their digital photo collections is “overwhelming and confusing,” according to a national study conducted by Corel Corporation (NASDAQ: CREL; TSX: CRE) and online survey services provider Zoomerang.
The 2006 Digital Photo Survey revealed that the “digital shoebox” problem-comparing the photos scattered throughout a hard drive to hardcopy photos thrown into a shoebox, with little organization-has become the “distributed shoebox”, with collections strewn between online and offline folders. With people storing their digital photos in multiple places, the management of these photos has become quite a daunting task. In fact, more than half of the respondents (51%) currently have between 100-1000 photos on their desktop and on online photo sharing sites. And 47% of people who take digital photos do not use any kind of photo management software, relying instead on a system of folders within their operating system in order to keep track of their pictures.
The survey also found that 86% of people who take digital photos share them with family and friends, with email ranking as the number one preferred method of sharing digital photos (80%), followed by printing at home (43%). An overwhelming 91% of respondents feel that sharing photos helps create meaningful, personal, and emotional connections.
Other findings of the survey include:

• Protecting Memories Remains an Issue: more than a third (34%) of respondents do not back up their digital photos
• Photo Printing Popular with Consumers – 84% of people who take digital photos print hard copies
• Home Printing Remains Most Popular – home ranked as the number one place to print photos (80%), followed by photo and drug stores (34%) and online services (14)%

About The 2006 Digital Photo Survey
The 2006 Digital Photo Survey is an independent national survey designed to provide insight into how consumers are organizing, managing, and sharing their digital photos.
The survey was completed by 767 respondents who take digital photos regularly. The respondents were invited to participate via email by Zoomerang, an online survey services provider. A Research Brief providing detailed information on the findings is available for journalists. Please contact Gail Scibelli at 617 539 9984 or via email at [email protected] to obtain a copy of the Research Brief.
About Corel Corporation
Corel is a leading global packaged software company with an estimated installed base of over 40 million users. The Company provides high quality, affordable and easy-to-use productivity, graphics and digital imaging software and enjoys a favorable market position among value-conscious consumers and small businesses. Its products are sold in over 75 countries through a scalable distribution platform comprised of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), Corel’s domestic and international websites, and a global network of resellers and retailers. The Company’s product portfolio features well-established, globally recognized brands including CorelDRAW® Graphics Suite, Corel® WordPerfect® Office, WinZip®, Corel® Paint Shop Pro®, and Corel Painter™.