Is technology mainly for the young?

If you asked the marketing directors of the largest consumer electronics companies who their target group are, they would probably point to a 15-35 age range. It might be gently rising as today's thirtysomethings are the first generation born and raised into a society extremely rich in information technology and it seems all too natural for them to keep up with the changes. But beyond that age limit, interest undoubtedly decreases and so do the sales, perpetuating a vicious circle of directing the newest technology mainly to the young. Or possibly, this is nothing more than just a long overdue myth?

There is definitely some truth in it. It does not take elaborate market research to conclude that teenagers and young adults are the most eager to experiment with novelties. It is part of their mindset and a dominant lifestyle that is centered around intensity of experiences and conspicuous consumption. In some quarters, they have even to contend with peer pressure not to fall behind on innovation and trends since not having or using certain devices or solutions can be perceived as outdated and uncool. The young are also more mobile, active and sociable and they need hi-tech to provide improvements to their way of living, making it more enjoyable, fulfilling and wholesome.

Music is a good case in point. As researchers would attest, interest in the sounds scene dramatically decreases beyond mid-thirties, a process greatly accelerated by the arrival of children and the demands of a family. It is hardly universal, with some middle-aged men and women still frantically listening to their favorite bands, but the overall tendency is clear. As a result, their willingness to shell out on fancy music players or visit MySpace profiles of artists goes down. For gadget producers, it is a sure sign they have more to gain in younger age groups.

But it is not so simple with every technology. While entertainment seems to be the preserve of the young and energetic, older adults have a lot to say about household appliances, cars or leisure devices. The market for smartphones is also geared towards managers and executives as it opens up phenomenal opportunities to enhance organization and communication within companies.

Despite its beginnings as a student network, the Internet has grown versatile enough to embrace surfers of all ages and all walks of life. It is a fantastic example of how technology can appeal to everyone, adapting its parameters to fit the needs of different age groups, sexes or interests. Merely a decade ago, there was a lot of talk about the effects of a digital exclusion that was affecting the aged, among other social groups, but there is more and more reassuring evidence demonstrating that they embrace e-mail, social networking, Internet banking, blogging and other online riches.

The myth of technology giving an advantage to the young seems to miss a point, especially as the first IT generation grows older showing no signs of slowing down their adaptation and service providers and producers successfully reach out to older age groups. While a graphics tablet" or a mini mouse" might remain the domain of the young, nothing like that could be said about GPS devices, household hardware or the Internet.