Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Using Technology for What?

The cover story on the Technology & Business page for the SF Chronicle this week was “Who is Doing What with Technology?” It is about a new survey titled, The State of Consumers and Technology: Benchmark 2008.

Here is the SF Chron story:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/28/BU9J11UH43.DTL&hw=The+State+of+Consumers+Technology+Benchmark+2008&sn=001&sc=1000

You can find the survey at:
http://www.forrester.com/Research/Document/Excerpt/0,7211,44126,00.html


It’s worth taking a look at the trends for the four age groups identified. As our population ages we see the techno-savvy Gen X (also called Millennials) and Gen Y becoming the population to which our programs are directed. Understanding their use of the internet to access Jewish life is important. If you listen to some speakers they will imply that these groups are using online social networking for all their social connections. I believe it is the more astute individual that says these groups use the internet to arrange for face-to-face social experiences. The need for human contact has not disappeared, it’s just that technology is being use to create it in new ways.

If you are so fortunate to have a small in home social science laboratory – also known as a teenage child – you will note that they reflect some of the messages we are being given by the marketing professionals. I am lucky enough to have both a teenage son (age 17) and a just-out-of college daughter (age 22). My two use technology differently from each other!

My son told me that email is just for use during school months to communicate with teachers. He uses his cell phone for calls and texting.

My daughter does the above but she also uses emailing and the internet for job searching and uses Skyping for work and play.

Watch your kids, they are creating the future.