My list of most misued/misunderstood words in Biz

'Wow' factor
'Beautiful'
'Design'
'Innovation'
'Collaboration'
'Next Generation'
'Agile/Lean'
'Web 2.0'
'Usability'
'Vision'
'Mission'
'Strategy'
'Goals'

Food for thought: From CHI 2010

Among other things Genevieve spoke about in her opening plenary session, one thing playing in my mind was the comment, "while many companies tend to focus their attention on creating technology for today’s youth, it’s the older generations who comprise the majority of the world’s population, and so technology should be more geared toward that demographic."


This brought tons of questions/thoughts to my mind:

• A lot is discussed about 'cultural' differences while doing 'international user research,' but not much emphasis laid on the 'age' factor and all resulting aspects
• While recruiting participants for Usability Tests, the focus is primarily on the 'fitment to the role' and the 'tasks' done by the user. Age is incidental/an after thought.
• Rarely do 'analyze' our findings based on 'age'.
• Wonder: Is this the reason 'touch' has become to successful compared to interacting with other input devices?
• Most self services in the 'western world are offered as 'touch' interfaces. Usage of these systems are quite widespread. ATM machines; ticketing machines...
• While Apple gets the flack from its 'younger' user base for not having 'multi-tasking' capabilities in their iPad, perhaps this is good news for the majority of the population. Keeps things focussed and simpler. 
• Does this explain why despite technological advancements, we have not achieved the dream of a 'paper less' world.
• Applications like 'Facebook' and 'Twitter' is getting adopted by older generations - perhaps driven by the need of distributed family members and friends. However, such applications are rather easy to sign up and start using.
• The age old debate of 'novice user versus expert user' now turn into the 'elder user versus younger user?'

Living in Europe, I experience his 'age' gap aspect almost on a daily basis. I even run into conflicts owing to our related mindsets. While Genevieve states the FACT that the majority of the world's population is old, articles like those below often project a contrary image:

• 'Envisioning your future'
• Life in 2020 

Are these then the 'idealized images' as shown by Genevieve in her presentation? Notice, the visuals always show 'young' people. ;-)


I as a relatively 'younger' citizen of this planet, can IMAGINE some of these 'futuristic predictions,' the 'older generation' cannot fathom these concepts. While some make an attempt to challenge themselves and feel proud of being able to embrace technology, others get more and more turned off by them.


In the midst of all this, some communities are forever discussing the big debate of 'bridging the digital divide.'


I ask myself:

• Do I know the average age of the users currently using the product I am involved with?
• How long are these users likely to remain users of this product? (owing to retirement etc)
• Thereby, what is the likely average age of the so called 'next generation' users of this product?