Bubbie and Zaydie checking their email
Of all the false truisms or accepted wisdoms I hear about Internet and technology usage, the one that truly makes me want to stick a pen in the eye of the offender is the assumption that there’s a specific demographic on the Web. And of course that demographic is ‘the kids.’
Yes, the teenagers and young adults are on the Web and are typically early adopters of new technologies and if your client wants to reach women aged 18-35 they better be there. But don’t assume (or you’ll make an.. well you know) that those of us over 35 can’t tell MySpace from a hole in the ground.
Case in point number one - my parents (who read this blog but never admit to it, hi Mom!) live in an “active adult community” (a euphemism for alta kakas in paradise) in Florida. The whole shebang was built five years ago and the community center is wired for WiFi throughout. What would be the point if old folks don’t know how to use computers?
Case in point number two - Nintendo is going after the AARP crowd.
For the first time, it took its products to Life@50+, an annual event sponsored by AARP, and held this year in Anaheim, Calif. The event, intended for those over 50, attracted more than 20,000 people and featured a wide range of panel discussions, celebrities and exhibitors showcasing products for older Americans.
“Nintendo has never gone after grandparents before,” said Amber McCollom, a senior manager of public relations for Nintendo. “We’re targeting this audience for themselves, not just their grandchildren.”
Technology is playing an increased role at the Life@50+ events, said Bruce Sanders, AARP’s director of national events. He noted that 18 tech companies were exhibiting this year, compared with 10 when the event was held in Las Vegas in 2004.
Full article here. And also from CrunchGear’s Blake Robinson who agrees with me.
Nintendo and the other companies at the AARP event are smart - they are not resting on demographic assumptions. Other companies, tech and otherwise, would be smart to follow their lead.
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Is this community The Villages of Lake Sumter?
An old client of mine did a case history on this place. It sounds pretty interesting.