MEEP Pad is an educational and entertaining way for kids to learn and develop. With robust parental controls and plenty of games to discover, the device has become a favorite among both parents and children. Now, the makers of the tablet are speaking out on a new article that explains how using tablets such as the MEEP can help to make travel more enjoyable for children.

A new study shows that passengers have become increasingly dependent on their tablet devices when it comes to enjoying entertainment and staying productive on long flights. The findings show that the use of electronic devices, which includes laptops, tablets, smartphones, and other gadgets, jumped 24.3 percent over the past year. The research, which was conducted by the Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development at DePaul University, took a look at the habits of 1,688 randomly selected passengers on 23 flights once the plane had hit a cruising altitude. The flights were operated by six different airlines.

This is the fourth consecutive year that the popularity of these electronic devices has jumped. At points throughout the flight, 35.3 percent of passengers were using their devices, while only 17.6 percent did the same in 2010. Tablet and e-reader growth saw the most significant spike, going from 8.4 percent in 2012 to 10.7 percent in 2013. The researchers noted that at any given point, more than one in nine passengers was engaged with a tablet.

The research also illustrated that the Federal Aviation Administration’s ban on the use of electronic devices throughout takeoff and landing proves disruptive to those travelers who rely heavily on their devices for entertainment and productivity purposes. As a result of the ban by the FAA, more than 105 million hours of disrupted technology is expected to take place during 2013. This is 104 percent higher than in 2010.

Marisa Schulz, who serves as a researcher and assistant director at the Chaddick Institute comments on the findings noting, “The FAA ban has far greater consequences today than it did when we began our research three years ago. Business travelers especially feel the pain of the FAA ban. Work gets cut short when electronic devices must be turned off.”

The limitations on tablet usage prove problematic even for those who are not conducting business. As tablets become increasingly popular among young travelers, the ban has impacted these passengers, who rely on their devices for entertainment and fun during a long trip.

These new tablets, such as the MEEP pad, are becoming staples on flights. The makers of the MEEP pad explain the popularity of the device noting, “The MEEP pad is ideal for travel with kids. It’s rugged and can be loaded with favorite games, music, e-books, and movies, perfect to keep children occupied and enjoying their trip.”

Fans of the MEEP pad (and their parents) will feel grateful to learn that the FAA has formed a group to determine whether more widespread use of electronic devices on flights would pose safety problems. The makers of the MEEP pad were excited to learn that the agency is taking a new look at the current ban.