The 2013-2019 RISC OS Surveys

Along with each annual Awards poll run on this site, a simple survey has also been carried out, with people given the option of participating in the survey when they cast their votes. The results of each survey are published individually once processed - but below are graphs showing how the results have changed since the first survey. These have been produced on RISC OS using Fireworkz, ChartWell, Artworks2, and ConvImgs.

The RISC OS community is a very small one, with only a very small number voting in the Awards poll each year - and some of those people skip the survey part of the voting form. And, of course, where someone did choose to complete the survey form, they may not necessarily have answered every question. This means that the resulting figures may not be representitive.

The change from one year to the next should also be considered; even though the changes themselves are only small numbers, with such small to begin with such changes can be significant, and may therefore skew the results. The very first chart, therefore, shows the number of people who completed a form each year.

Additionally, the survey is currently presented as a simple form, so everyone who fills it in sees every question, even those they can skip due to a previous answer - but in a very small number of cases, such questions aren't skipped.

With all of that noted, the year on year historical results are presented below. For most questions, there are two charts - a simple line graph, and a stacked area graph. In each case the chart begins in the year the question was first asked.

The 2013-2019 RISC OS Survey Results

Number of voting/survey forms completed

The number of forms completed each year - 2013-2019
The number of forms completed each year - 2013-2019.

Question 1: How many RISC OS systems do you own?

Number of RISC OS computer systems owned - 2013-2019 Number of RISC OS computer systems owned - 2013-2019
Number of RISC OS computer systems owned - 2013-2019.

Question 2: And of those, how many are in regular or semi-regular use?

Number of RISC OS computer systems used - 2013-2019 Number of RISC OS computer systems used - 2013-2019
Number of RISC OS computer systems used - 2013-2019.

Question 3: Which version of RISC OS do you use most?

RISC OS versions used most - 2013-2019 RISC OS versions used most - 2013-2019
RISC OS versions used most - 2013-2019.
Note: RISC OS 2.0 is also given as an option in this question, but has either not been selected, or selected so few times that the percentage rounds down to zero, so it isn't reflected in the charts.

Question 4: What is your main platform for using RISC OS?

Platforms used to run RISC OS - 2013-2019 (part 1) Platforms used to run RISC OS - 2013-2019 (part 1)
Platforms used to run RISC OS - 2013-2019 (part 1).
Platforms used to run RISC OS - 2013-2019 (part 2) Platforms used to run RISC OS - 2013-2019 (part 2)
Platforms used to run RISC OS - 2013-2019 (part 2).

Note: The ARMX6, RapidO Ig, and Titanium options were added in 2015. ARMBook was also added as a platform in 2019, but is not shown here - it will be added in future, when there is historical data to chart.

Question 5: How long have you been a RISC OS user?

How long people have been using RISC OS - 2013-2019 How long people have been using RISC OS - 2013-2019
How long people have been using RISC OS - 2013-2019.

Note: The 'upgraded from Arthur' option was added in 2016, and effectively splits the 'Since Acorn' option.

The figure of 15 years was originally adopted in the 2013 poll to reflect the period since Acorn closed down, and should really have been adjusted each year accordingly, or changed to something more generic, and possibly split into two or more narrower ranges. This will be addressed in the next survey.

Question 6: Do you use RISC OS in a professional capacity in any way?

Whether or not people use RISC OS in a professional capacity - 2015-2019 Whether or not people use RISC OS in a professional capacity - 2015-2019
Whether or not people use RISC OS in their jobs in a professional capacity - 2015-2019.

Question 7: Would you say your overall use of RISC OS has increased or decreased over the last year?

Whether people think their use of RISC OS has increased or decreased - 2015-2019 Whether people think their use of RISC OS has increased or decreased - 2015-2019
Whether people think their use of RISC OS has increased or decreased - 2015-2019.

Question 8: How much would you say you've spent on RISC OS hardware in the last year?

Amount people estimate they've spent on hardware over the previous year - 2016-2019 Amount people estimate they've spent on hardware over the previous year - 2016-2019
Amount people estimate they've spent on hardware over the previous year - 2016-2019.

Question 9: How much would you say you've spent on RISC OS software in the last year?

Amount people estimate they've spent on software over the previous year - 2016-2019 Amount people estimate they've spent on software over the previous year - 2016-2019
Amount people estimate they've spent on software over the previous year - 2016-2019.

Question 10: How much do you think you'll spend on RISC OS hardware this year?

Amount people expect to spend on hardware over the coming year - 2016-2019 Amount people expect to spend on hardware over the coming year - 2016-2019
Amount people expect they'll spend on hardware over the coming year - 2016-2019.

Question 11: How much do you think you'll spend on RISC OS software this year?

Amount people expect to spend on software over the coming year - 2016-2019 Amount people expect to spend on software over the coming year - 2016-2019
Amount people expect to spend on software over the coming year - 2016-2019.

Question 12: If you feel your spending is low, why would you say that is?

The reasons people offer if they think their spending was low - 2016-2019 The reasons people offer if they think their spending was low - 2016-2019
The reasons people offer if they think their spending was low - 2016-2019.

Question 13: Do you attend your local user group meetings?

Whether or not people attend their local user group meetings - 2015-2019 Whether or not people attend their local user group meetings - 2015-2019
Whether or not people attend their local user group meetings - 2015-2019.

Question 14: If not, do you know of a local group and if/when they meet?

Why people don't attend local user group meetings - 2015-2019 Why people don't attend local user group meetings - 2015-2019
Why people don't attend local user group meetings - 2015-2019.
Note: The 'Yes, but it isn't practical' option was new in 2017.

Question 15: By choice, do you use any platforms other than RISC OS?

Whether or not people choose to use another platform as well as RISC OS - 2013-2019 Whether or not people choose to use another platform as well as RISC OS - 2013-2019
Whether or not people choose to use another platform as well as RISC OS - 2013-2019.

Question 16: What operating system(s) do you use as well as RISC OS?

The operating systems used as well as RISC OS - 2017-2019
The operating systems used as well as RISC OS - 2017-2019.
Note: This question allows more than one alternative operating system to be selected - recognising that people may use more than one (for example Windows on the desktop, and Android on a mobile device).

Question 17: Which other operating system do you use most?

The operating system people use MOST as well as RISC OS - 2013-2019 The operating system people use MOST as well as RISC OS - 2013-2019
The operating system people use most as well as RISC OS - 2013-2019.
Note: iOS, Android, and ChromeOS were added as options in 2016. Since its addition, ChromeOS has either not been selected, or selected so few times that the percentage rounds down to zero, so it isn't reflected in the charts.

Question 18: On what processor do you use that operating system?

The processor used by people for the other OS they use most - 2013-2019 The processor used by people for the other OS they use most - 2013-2019
The processor used by people for the other OS they use most - 2013-2019.

Question 19: And do you use it more than RISC OS?

Whether people use their other platforms more or less than RISC OS - 2013-2019 Whether people use their other platforms more or less than RISC OS - 2013-2019
Whether people use their other platforms more or less than RISC OS - 2013-2019.
Note: The 'It varies' option was added in 2015.

Question 20: In which age range do you fall?

The age ranges of RISC OS users - 2013-2019 The age ranges of RISC OS users - 2013-2019
The age ranges of RISC OS users - 2013-2019.

Question 21: What gender are you?

The genders of RISC OS users - 2013-2019 The genders of RISC OS users - 2013-2019
The genders of RISC OS users - 2013-2019.
Note: An 'Other' option was added in 2017, but is not shown in the charts because it has either not been selected, or selected so few times that the percentage rounds down to zero.