Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2014 February 13

= February 13 =

Commodities: prevalence in households
I've been trying to find this out for various things (cars, phones, etc) and in some cases have found this information to be available for the US (for instance, apparently this year is the 60th anniversary of when the point was reached at which a majority of US households had a TV, and for radio it was 1931), but have been unable to find anything for some other things, such as cars and phones. (and finding this information for any other countries has been especially problematic). Wondered if anyone knew (or had any ideas of where to look). Asking at the reference desk at my local library has thus far not led to finding the answers. -AlkalineCurdLodge (talk) 13:34, 13 February 2014 (UTC)


 * I am revising the heading of this section from When was the point first reached at which a majority of households in [insert country here] had a (car, phone, etc)? to Commodities: prevalence in households, in harmony with WP:TPOC, point 12 (Section headings). Please see Microcontent: How to Write Headlines, Page Titles, and Subject Lines.  The new heading facilitates recognition of the topic in links and watchlists and tables of contents.
 * —Wavelength (talk) 16:53, 13 February 2014 (UTC)
 * I don't think the title change was necessary or helpful. You have increases the "reading level" of the title, perhaps to one the OP would not be comfortable with and commodities is not necessarily even correct. I read only the title and started thinking about which countries' householders stockpile oatmeal instead of maize flour. 75.41.109.190 (talk) 17:56, 13 February 2014 (UTC)
 * I'm comfortable with the "reading level" of either version, it's alright. I think while "commodities" tends to mean "raw materials" (and therefore is not the first word I would have used here), it doesn't have to mean that. Anyway, either way works for me as long as I can get an answer to the question at some point :) -AlkalineCurdLodge (talk) 18:48, 13 February 2014 (UTC)


 * Here are 12 possibly helpful links.
 * Three Technology Revolutions | Pew Internet
 * Computer and Internet Use Main - People and Households - U.S. Census Bureau
 * Tablet Computer Ownership Continues to Increase in the Third Quarter, According to CEA’s Latest Cons - CEA
 * List of countries by vehicles per capita
 * b:Transportation Deployment Casebook/History of the Automobile: Ownership per Household in U.S.
 * EnviroStats: Canada's growing population and its environmental influence, 1956 to 2006
 * Motor vehicles (per 1,000 people) | Data | Table
 * Car Ownership Statistics
 * Be Careful With Statistics | Planetizen: The Urban Planning, Design, and Development Network
 * % > Households With Television statistics - countries compared - NationMaster
 * Ask Your Librarian: TV Ownership in the Fifties | The Sheridan Libraries Blog
 * Tracking modern conveniences in the home - Statistics New Zealand
 * —Wavelength (talk) 00:54, 14 February 2014 (UTC)