The Pew Internet & American Life Project has released a report titled, A Typology of Information and Communication Technology Users (pdf). The report is being covered by iMedia, with the article title, Nearly Half of Americans Ignore Internet.
The study by Pew was undertaken with the explicit mission to make known the segments of the population that make robust use of information technology amid the advent of Web 2.0. The survey was conducted over the telephone between February 15th, 2006 and April 6th, 2006, among a sampling of 4,001 adults, aged 18 and older.
Pew culled the results together and created 10 groups that each have their own particular characteristics, attitudes and usage patterns. Broadly these 10 groups fit into three higher groups: the Elite users, the Middle-of-the-road users, and the Few Technology Assets users.
- 31% of American adults can be considered Elite Tech users
- 20% of American adults can be considered Middle-of-the-road users
- 49% have little use for modern gadgets and usually stick to plain ole telephones and television.
Of the 31% that were considered Elite Tech users, the reader’s of this blog might fall into the sub-category Omnivores; of which 8% of American adults constitute. These are the people most active in the information economy and are watching video on an iPod, txt’ing to their friends, logging into Web 2.0 websites and most Omnivores are in their 20’s with high-speed Internet connections at home or work.
Of the 49% that were considered disconnected from the Internet, iMedia stipulates on why this situation might have arisen:
Information overload, cost and a general perception that pastimes such as blogging and spending time on YouTube aren’t for them, are some of the key obstacles from bringing nearly half of U.S. adults into the digital age, according to Horrigan.
The potential for digital information technology that benefits and serves this very large disconnected group is extremely vast and promising. Ok, now stop reading this and start something for this other half.
Sphere: Related Content
JD Lasica, over at socialmedia.biz, is at the OnHollywood event and he has a great post about what’s being talked about at OnHollywood. Of interest to me, from his post, are the following:
- Richard Rosenblatt, CEO of Demand Media, unveiled dot.tv
- Chad Hurley said, “We’re seeing the optimum length of a video is 2 minutes.” on YouTube and he doesn’t attribute this to something YouTube caused, but rather it’s the nature of video on the Internet.
- Michael Robertson made a prescient statement that he doesn’t see the explosion of video on the Internet as a benefit to the middle-of-the-road video producer or talent, because he remembers the 90’s when most thought the Internet would allow the rise of “middle-class musicians” to make a living without being signed to a big label. So far, he’s right and those that dedicate their lives to playing music still have a hard time paying the rent - the only band I can think of that has done well without signing to the majors is Arcade Fire; could be wrong. To sum up, Michael suggests you should always reach for the top with your creative works, if you ever want to make money.
- Richard Rosenblatt disagreed and tired to sell everyone that the only thing standing in the way of someone making an instructional video in their basement for $500, is for there to be a monetization system in place where he can sell it for > $500.
- Blake Krikorian, founder-CEO of Sling Media, hates DRM. Not sure if everyone in the audience nodded their head in agreement when he espoused his dislike for DRM - I would be enthused if everyone agreed.
Sphere: Related Content
Monster.com, a site (at least for me) that has diminished in usefulness over the last two years - due to heavy competition by Indeed, Jobster and other social networking sites - has joined Twitter. After you friend Monster Jobs on Twitter, you can expect sporadic updates on everything from career advice to tips on finding that new job. Just thought I’d feed the Twitter beast with this post 
Sphere: Related Content
I came across Art Face Off via an email from Portland Adverting Federation’s VOX email newsletter this afternoon.
Who?
Art Face Off is online community with the stated mission: Forging a new art world through democracy and community.
Read the rest of this entry »
Sphere: Related Content
I’m not sure if this will show up in your feedreader, but I wanted to include a poll in this post asking you if you give a Thumbs-up or a Thumbs-down to the redesign of USAToday.com.
Loading …
By Tim