atripathi

The new market of baby boomers sells to the internet, with the invent of computer (laptops) and other wireless gadgets the market is able to target the demographic by providing them with many applications of web2.0 in service from live voice chat to blogging applications. Baby boomer are now effectively making use of this tool to do business online. They are diversifying these applications from real estate business to social networking. They sell their real estate’s on online and buy it online, there are easily able to adapt to transition in the technology and apply themselves to the change.
The market research firm NDP says that the online activities once highly popular with younger generation is now actively participated by the baby boomers too.

• 61 percent of baby boomer has visited sites (age 44 to 61) that offers streaming or downloadable video (e.g., YouTube and TV network Web sites )
• 41 percent had visited social networks sites (e.g. Linked-In, Face book, and MySpace).
• younger Web users (13- to 34-year-olds) are significantly more likely to visit social networking sites, but baby boomers who visited social networking Web sites did so an average of 8 times in comparison.
• Baby boomers who engage in activities, like social networking or video streaming, are also more likely to buy DVDs, CDs and go out to the movies.
• Baby boomers who stream video are also 15 percent more likely to their counterparts (non streaming) to buy a CD, DVD, or movie tickets.
The Wireless technology has become a part of everyday life. Remote controls allow us to surf channels of our televisions from the comfort areas. Many offices and even your local marketing areas are offering wireless access to the Internet through Wi-Fi technology. The wireless technology can provide lot of benefits the baby boomers in the field of heath care, security and communication. They can be
1. Cell phones
2. GPS (global positioning system)
3. Hearing aid technology(Bluetooth)
4. RF-ID readers.
5. Remote control operation of doors.

These technologies are helping baby boomers, providing more comfort and ease to access the various needs. The cell phones looks as potential market to attract baby boomers as they can communicate at real time and access various different use as test messaging, internet surfing and many others. For example, Jitterbug Company launched a unique mobile phone services designed to meet the needs of older users. It provides common touchstone pad with large icons and simplified features to ease the mobile-phone experience. They even provide hearing handset, which will help to have smooth communication with no interference of noise externally.
GPS (global positioning system) will also help in providing wide comfort by its application to locate the distant locations and sensing ability to locate the asked regions.
Even the wireless remote control can help the elderly baby boomers to open the doors or close the shed effortless. This technology can provide wide range of comfort to the baby boomers.
To grasp the potential market, many companies are coming up with simple product that can attract the high population of elderly people. They are investing in health care wireless services product to develop as.
1. Move and location based memory aids:
• RFID readers are used to locate personal belongings with tags identifiers.

2. Detection of early warning signs for depression or for other chronic diseases:
• The motion of residents and their daily routines are monitored by RFID-based
motion sensing and tracking device.
Early warning signs for severe depression (e.g., not taking medicine, not eating, staying
in bed for a long time)

3. Real-time wireless channels that can notifying designated people at the time of emergencies with help of the switch.

The device developed by companies to provide health services to baby boomers
.
1. GE security offers similar products called Home Assurance and Personal Emergency Response that can be used to monitor motion sensors whether seniors are engaging in their regular activities at home and provide a call button in case of emergency.

2. Wheels of Zeus, started by Apple Computer, have developed a GPS location system, which “uses lightweight SmartTags that can be attached to clothing and other items. SmartTags monitor elderly individuals, particularly those impaired by Alzheimer’s disease and who may be prone to wandering into dangerous areas.

Even the wireless remote control can help the elderly baby boomers to open the doors or close the shed effortless. This technology can provide wide range of comfort to the baby boomers.

I believe in the coming years lot of companies will invest on the market, from automobile industry to various heath care products to utilities the market potential of the baby boomers.

References:
1. Elwyn, Jenkins on April 21, 2007. Baby Boomers the key Internet marketing demographic.
http://www.techwithoutwires.com/50226711/baby_boomers_the_key_internet_marketing_demographic.php

Learn about the potential market internet market applied to baby boomers.

2. Jesse. James. Garrett, May 29, 2007,A Cell Phone for Baby Boomers.
http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/may2007/id20070529_644980.htm

Learn about the mobile industry interest in the market potential of baby boomers.

3. White House Conference on Aging. 2005. Technology and Innovation in an
Emerging Senior/Boomer Marketplace.
http://www.icdr.us/cognitive/resources/WHCOA%20White%20Paper.pdf