As a startup founder I’ve been fixated on understanding technology adoption, and trying to not spread myself too thin: writing a web app, native apps for smart phones, and potentially an iPad app, or whatever else might come out in the next couple of years.
Here’s how I’m figuring out who will adopt my product and what technology to build it on:
Who is my target customer? (age, gender, occupation – income level & usage model)
What technologies have they already adopted, and why?
What are they trying to accomplish or enjoy in their doing in their daily lives?
Are there technologies that bridge the gap between work and fun? Or do people still buy technology for special use (e.g. photographers who buy high-end cameras vs the casual user who may snap pics with his phone)?
User’s lifestyle path affects their technology buying decisions. In the case of my dad, he opted for the BlackBerry over iPhone because he’s always worked for big companies where constant communication on projects is the culture, and his hobbies are working out, following the stock market, and reading business books. For my dad getting things done, and imbibing information is best done via the BB. My mom on the other hand, opted for the iPhone, because she’s always worked for small companies where email isn’t as prevalent, loves movies, and is a music junkie; the iPhone aesthetic is an extension of her artsy nature. For both my parents their choice of phones (hardware) to use is an extension of their personality traits, and lifestyle decisions. The software built on top of it caters to each persons personalities.
One method of evalution is creating such personas, and seeing how the nature of the technology meshes with them. Match up the product you are creating to the device owner’s personality. For example, iPhone users tend to favor an emotional and sensual experience, whereas an Android user tends to be a little more rational opting for a network or price point to dictate his device purchase. The same can be seen in the video game industry where hardcore gamers favor the PlayStation and xBox over the Wii, which is meant for a casual crowd. Another is the flip camera. People who want to take short high quality videos buy it versus the documentary film videographer whose filming needs require longer videos, not clips.
Consumer devices have personalities, and consumers are buying based on what matches theirs as well as their usage needs. My software product needs to be built on the hardware that matches up with my potential users’ personality. As a software engineer I am a slave to hardware technology, good thing I have both degrees 🙂
