September 4, 2005
Why technology misses the masses
According to a recent report into the use of technology in France, Germany and the UK, many people don't understand how to use all the functions on their mobile phone, reports the BBC.
"The report, commissioned by the European technology PR company Hotwire, was intended to give an understanding of how technology is changing people's lives, explained Brendon Craigie, Hotwire's senior partner.
"We spoke to 6,000 people and found that young males are embracing new technologies much faster than women and the over-45s," he told Click Online.
"The reason for this, we believe, is that manufacturers are focusing too heavily on the features within their products rather than the benefits and the ways they can change people's lives.
"For instance, in terms of the impact, this means there are 30% more men using broadband today as women, and there are twice as many under-45s using broadband today as over-45s.
It is not clear whether manufacturers are ignoring the over-45s because they believe they will not be around for much longer, but Brendon says that such an attitude would be a huge mistake.
"Over-45s have lots of disposable income, they put a premium on their leisure time and these are exactly the kind of things that broadband and 3G are meant to address."
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