Product Assessment
Choose a consumer product or service that is on the market today, but is declining in appeal to consumers. This product should be marked for “obsolesces”.
Discuss this product or service in terms of its current target demographics using U.S. Census Data.
The product I choose to discuss is desktop computers, also known as personal computers. A desktop computer is intended for regular individual use at a single location. Desktop computers have been around since 1977. “Derived from the development of large scale computers, which became the commonplace in the 1950s, the personal computer utilized advances in microelectronics to achieve immense reductions in the physical size and monetary cost of computing equipment.” (U.S. Census Data, n.d.) The target market that used desktop computers were the workplace, schools, libraries and in households by adults and children. According to the U. S. Census Data over 71% of children in school had some use of a computer and 40% of all working adults report that they use computers on their jobs. It also shows that children have more access to a computer at school versus home. The research shows that 30% of children ranging from ages 3-17 used a computer and that level of use has risen to 75% today. In 1984, 8% of 3-5 year olds used a computer and today that percentage have risen to 38%. It also showed that white children were about twice as likely as blacks and Hispanics to use a computer. The level of computer usage by adults has also risen over the past years. Adults between the ages of 25-44 usage rates are high but children and teenagers are more involved with technology. Older aged adult’s ranging from 65 and up computer usage percentage levels have dropped drastically because only 10% of them reported computer usage. So there is a significant difference from when computers first started until now between the usage of adults and the usage of children with computers.
Determine why you believe the product or service is
Discuss this product or service in terms of its current target demographics using U.S. Census Data.
The product I choose to discuss is desktop computers, also known as personal computers. A desktop computer is intended for regular individual use at a single location. Desktop computers have been around since 1977. “Derived from the development of large scale computers, which became the commonplace in the 1950s, the personal computer utilized advances in microelectronics to achieve immense reductions in the physical size and monetary cost of computing equipment.” (U.S. Census Data, n.d.) The target market that used desktop computers were the workplace, schools, libraries and in households by adults and children. According to the U. S. Census Data over 71% of children in school had some use of a computer and 40% of all working adults report that they use computers on their jobs. It also shows that children have more access to a computer at school versus home. The research shows that 30% of children ranging from ages 3-17 used a computer and that level of use has risen to 75% today. In 1984, 8% of 3-5 year olds used a computer and today that percentage have risen to 38%. It also showed that white children were about twice as likely as blacks and Hispanics to use a computer. The level of computer usage by adults has also risen over the past years. Adults between the ages of 25-44 usage rates are high but children and teenagers are more involved with technology. Older aged adult’s ranging from 65 and up computer usage percentage levels have dropped drastically because only 10% of them reported computer usage. So there is a significant difference from when computers first started until now between the usage of adults and the usage of children with computers.
Determine why you believe the product or service is
References: Lamb/ Hair McDaniel (2013) Marketing Concepts Medical Marketing and Media, Charlene Prounis (February 01, 2007) Ten steps to product positioning. U.S. Census Data, Robert Kominiski, Current Population Reports, Series P23, NO.155, Computer Use in the United States.