According to a report published by Forrester Research on Wednesday, parameters like tech devices owned by Americans, technology they purchase, and their Internet usage, reveal that they have practically become 'tech nerds' - a term which, some time back, was used only for the fanatically tech crazy people!

The report, which looked at Americans by "life stage," showed that nearly 87 percent of the people are all hooked to the Internet - they use PCs, watch digital TV, and chat on cell phones, for both personal and professional reasons.

The Forrester report, based on a yearly mail survey sent to US consumers - to which 48,412 people responded - found that while the average American household owns two or more computers; more than five in six of all households own a cell phone.

Noting that high-definition TV grew the fastest in 2008, among all the available technologies, the Forrester report said that nearly 10 million new households bought an HDTV. With home network being the second most popular technology, Forrester projects both these technologies to set new growth records in the next five years.

The report said: "Technologies like PCs and mobile phones, which were once reserved for the most well-heeled tech freaks, are in three quarters of US households.

Consumers in every stage of life continue to move an increasing amount of their time and attention away from offline channels."