Pew Breaks Down Tech Users reports on new research on the typology of American communiction and information technology users. It looks at the population and breaks it down based on their behaviours, attitudes, and other traits. In a nutshell 85% of American adults use the Internet or cell phones. Those who use technology can be broken down into three groups: elite technology users, moderate technology users, and light or peripheral users.
They broke the moderate tech users into two subgroups: mobile centrics who just live by their cell phones (and the only way to have a discussion with them is by calling them, no live meetings please!) and connected but hassled users who embrace technology but find it burdensome (when non-stop messages from work and kids makes any simple task a juggling act).
Some 31 percent of Americans fall in the elite category (the snob class) which can be split into 4 subgroups: omnivores, connectors, lackluster veterans, and productivity enhancers. Omnivores (yum, I’ll use anything I can get my hands on) use a wide range of gadgets and services, and spend a fair amount of time in cyberspace and Web 2.0 activities, and are the most likely to blog and run their own Web pages. Connectors (do you see a plug when you read connectors?) use mobile devices and Internet technology to access and work with information and use it for socializing and communicating. Lackluster veterans (sitting in front of the computer too much can make one grey and luckluster, I know) are heavy Internet users, but aren’t as keen on mobile phones and aren’t as likely to be excited about new communication devices. Productivity enhancers are very positive about how technology lets them, well… be more productive.
It is interesting to know how to categorize yourself and others based on habits. Yesterday I told someone I am a Web Specialist and she said I must be on the computer a fair amount. I nodded in agreement, thinking it was a good thing - but then she vented her rage on me - she said her husband was always in front of the computer and that something is missing from someone if they spend so much time in front of the computer. I asked her if he was working on the computer or just playing. He just works on the computer, no playing games or wasting time - he works hard so that she can have a good life - I could see she spends plenty of money on herself. It just goes to show that this may be an important category to consider when finding one’s soul mate or creating a match maker site ( I know two people who have considered making their own match maker site ).
