age neutral

Technology for seniors – why have a separate category? Laurie Orlov asks this question and comes up with a few answers.

One of the advantages of being in the age business for so long is that you have seen most business models and joint-ventures come and go.

So it is with AARP's new venture in advertising. This is what it says about itself:

Way back in 2003 I wrote my first blog post about OXO - a company that was all about universal design and that built products that could be used by as many people as possible. In the company's own words that means designing products for young and old, male and female, lefties and righties and many with special needs. 

I always like reading Trendwatching promotional material. Recently they produced some content about post demographic consumerism that they define as: People – of all ages and in all markets – are constructing their own identities more freely than ever. 

If I had a dollar for every time I have been asked: "so what company gets this ageing thing and is succeeding" I would be a wealthy guy.

I always like looking at what others are saying is going to happen in the coming 12 months.  I know how it works. You have to produce a slides and you sit around thinking of all of the odds and sods of developments that you have heard about and put them into the mix as things 'to look out for' in the next year.

This links tells you what the Twitter reaction was to the ads.

This link lets you watch them all.

This is what Hulu thought were the winners and losers.

It’s that time of year where you cannot open a newspaper without reading predictions for 2010 and rationalisations of 2009. I thought that enough had been written about 2009 but it might be interesting to speculate about the coming 12 months – from the perspective of the things that will be important when marketing to older people.

Motorola has just discovered the concept of age neutral behaviour. Better late than never.

The research study (Media Engagement Barometer) found that high percentages of Americans - across multiple generations - are using media and mobile technology. Age no longer dictates new media use. And surprisingly, influencers who drive usage are now found in every group. Well that is not totally true but Motorola has definitely confirmed something that a few of us have been banging on about.

by: Dick Stroud

This is the announcement from the press release.