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BOOMERS:45 to 63 years old

POPULATION:78 million

GENERATIONAL INSIGHT:Technology wish list for purchase in next 12 months (those in their 50s)• HDTV• Laptop• Cell phone• Desktop computer• GPS

Source: The Consumer Electronics Association

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Forget bingo and checkers. For today‟s retirees, Wii bowling is the name of thegame. Now all those silver-haired virtual bowlers can compete for cash prizes onthe Senior Wii Circuit.

Thousands of players across the country already participate in Wii tournamentsjust for the bragging rights. The new league ups the ante by letting them earnreal money on a virtual tour of senior centers and retirement homes.

League mastermind Catherine Masters is no stranger to competitive sports. In2000, she founded the National Women‟s Football League. As the leagueexpands, Masters plans to add other Wii sports.

The beauty of Wii bowling (and any other virtual sport) is that anyone canparticipate, even the wheelchair-bound. Add cash prizes to the mix and you giveolder consumers even more incentive to stay vital.

With aging Boomers poised to swell the ranks of seniors, more and morecompanies are zooming in. Want to cozy up to the demo? Sponsor a Wii bowlingteam. If the Wii circuit takes off, watch for players competing on niche cablenets.

Source: Iconoculture

4

Baby Boomers long considered Facebook as a frivolous Internet novelty that gripped young people but was of no conceivableinterest to serious people. That was then, this is now.

Within the past half year or so, Facebook has breeched the Boomer barrier. Boomers first started receiving “friend” requestsfrom younger colleagues. Many set up Facebook profiles out of curiosity. The random friending requests turned into a trickle,and the trickle became a flow. Then came the e-mails from friends, and the requests to join groups, and invitations to goplaces, etc.

The Facebooking of the Baby Boomer generation was first recognized in early 2009 as a bona fide social phenomenon when awriter for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette penned an article, OMG! Mom‟s on Facebook!

The online interaction raises a host of social dilemmas that Boomers have never confronted before. What happens if you‟refriended by a boss you don‟t like? Is it better to reject an unwanted friending request outright, or is that too harsh? Is it betterto simply leave such a request hanging? Closer to home: Is it appropriate for a Boomer to “friend” his 23-year-old daughter?And should he take umbrage if she turns him down?

Source: BoomerConsumer.com

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You‟ve heard the saying, “I‟m a visual person.” Well, for the visualBoomer woman who also sports a good sense of humor, MenOpop is aunique guide to menopause inspired by her more youthful days.

The 14-page hardcover book, which has been covered by CNN, ABCWorld News, The New York Times and Maxim, is filled with interactivefeatures such as pop-ups (picture a 3-D uterus or Miss MaPeriod as thecenterfold), games and activities.

Positive feedback from readers includes comments such as, “We wereable to laugh out loud about something that sometimes can bring tears”(Amazon.com 2.09).

For many women, the physical changes and emotional uncertaintiesthat accompany menopause may very well ring a bell from youthfuldays … like adolescence. A lighthearted approach to an important riteof passage provides education as well as comic relief for seriousdiscomfort.

Source: Iconoculture

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It has been established that Baby Boomers are becoming more savvy when it comes to technology and use of the Internet.That said, there are moves afoot to answer the question: Now that they‟re on the Web, where are Baby Boomers spendingtheir time?

One such effort comes from the Baby Boomer Knowledge Center which has identified several popular hangouts:

• Boomer Diva Nation

• Boomj

• Eons

• Facebook

• Friendster

• Grandparents.com

• National Association of Baby Boomer Women

• Silver Planet

• Vibrant Nation

Source: Examiner.com

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After retirement, MaryBeth DiCecco became disenchanted with life in the United States. So she settled down in Mexicoinstead. “It‟s enriching,” DiCecco said of her home in La Misión, Baja California Norte. “I get to do charity work and livewithin a wonderful community of people.”

With 76 million Baby Boomers approaching retirement in a country with an ailing economy and rising health-care costs,many are choosing to move south of the border to live more comfortable lives for less money.

Retirement experts in Mexico say the cost of living for American citizens in Mexico is about 40% cheaper than in the U.S. Anda visit to a general doctor typically costs about $35.

“Many groups in Mexico want to develop retirement communities,” said Javier Godínez, president of the Mexican Associationof Retirement Communities. “People want to keep the same quality of life they have in the United States, but they want it fora fairer price.”

About 1.2 million retired Americans and Canadians already live in Mexico, and that number is expected to approach 8 millionas Boomers retire and discover how modern and safe life can be in Mexico.

Source: The Brownsville Herald

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GEN X:32 to 44 years old

POPULATION:53 million

GENERATIONAL INSIGHT:• 80% of Internet users shop online• 67% of Internet users bank online

Source: Pew Internet Life Study

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Virtual-world children‟s game Elf Island is harnessing the enthusiasm ofits pint-sized patrons to make real-world impact on behalf of Habitat forHumanity.

Elf Island‟s creators are donating money to help Habitat for Humanity buildreal houses in Honduras for every 10,000 virtual houses that kids “build”on the island. Kids assemble the houses by playing games to winnecessary building materials for the project.

Habitat for Humanity isn‟t the only nonprofit enlisted in Elf Island‟s“Gaming for Good” campaign. Other organizations receiving aid based onkids‟ gaming exploits include WildAID (protecting sharks in the GalapagosIslands) and Plant-IT 2020 (growing new trees in Niger).

By appealing to altruism and ensuring a safe environment, games such asElf Island are targeting the parents who pay the bills just as much as thechildren who play the games. Charitable gaming means mom and dad canfeel less guilty about Dick and Jane spending hours on the Web rather thanplaying outside.

Source: Iconoculture

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Finding a reliable babysitter can be tough. Sitter Soirees in Portland, Oregon, streamlines the process with “speed-dating”sessions that bring parents and sitters together at informal gatherings held in family-friendly boutiques.

Soiree founder Jen Fererro recruits potential sitters from local colleges and employment Web sites. The dozen or so whomake the cut out of 50-70 applicants boast impressive creds, from special-needs experience to bilingual fluency.

Parents pay $45 to attend the Soirees, some with toddlers in tow. Once a match is made, sitters charge the standard rate:$10-$15 an hour. Sitter Soirees are catching on in other cities, including Tampa, Florida.

Speed-dating works for singles. Why not babysitters? The opportunity to chat casually with candidates, and compare themwith one another, gives parents a better feel of whether a sitter‟s right for them. In today‟s danger-fraught world, parentsdemand rigorous reviews. They‟re also looking for sitters to stimulate the kids, not just park them in front of the screen.

Source: Iconoculture

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Scott Langteau has this message for kids: Spend less time playingvideo games. It‟s a message that many a mom and dad have tried toimpress upon many a youngster who spend perhaps a wee bit toomuch time with game controllers in hand.

Langteau has just published a children‟s book called Sofa Boy, whichtells the story of a kid who spends too much time sitting on the couchwith controller clutched in hand and the rather dire consequencesthat follow.

Langteau would like make one thing clear: “I‟m not saying that youshouldn‟t play video games. I think video games are great. I thinkthey do great things for kids.” Instead, Langteau says his book is allabout a little something called “moderation.”

Langteau says he hopes his book will be a good way for parents tochat with their kids about making smart decisions regarding thegames they play and how they spend their time.

Source: MSNBC.COM

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Schlepping toddlers and their stuff around can be a daunting task. Packtoozistreamlines the job with a complete packing system that makes it easy to tote, findand replenish everything from diapers and toys to sunscreen and snacks.

Parents stock basic supplies in the pockets of a hanging bag that serves as homebase. When they‟re ready to hit the road, they pack all the gear in color-codedzippered pouches that slip into separate sections of a roomy tote. A shopping-listpad encourages reminders for the next trip to the store.

Eco-friendly Packtoozi packs are made of 100% organic cotton and help reducewaste by cutting down on throwaway bags. Forget simple diaper bags. On-the-goparents want multiuse systems, like DadGear‟s sporty diaper vest and convertibleLilly Gold Nap-Sacs, which double as changing tables.

Time is money, especially when you‟re juggling toddlers with work. Even in arecession, parents are looking for smart products that help them get a grip on busylives.

Source: Iconoculture

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Some men want a sensory escape but just can‟t quite stomach candlescents like Strawberry Dreams and Tropical Sunset. The Manly CandleCompany is filling this niche need with its Mandles: candles that capturethe scent of masculine stuff.

What does masculinity smell like? There‟s The Hunting Lodge, CleanLaundry, Yardwork, Leather (as in: a new car or work gloves) and CedarForest (reminiscent of closets or shop class). They even have a holidaycandle: Frozen Mountain Air.

Though women may be primary candle purchasers, it‟s important toremember there‟s a male audience that‟s also interested in freshening theair. But these guys don‟t want to bring home a candle with ultra-femininepackaging and a super sweet scent.

Source: Iconoculture

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GEN Y:11 to 31 years old

POPULATION:84 million

GENERATIONAL INSIGHT:• 74% feel personally impacted by the recession• Family Guy, Heroes and That „70s Show are the top three TV shows

they would most like to live in• 54% would rather give up TV than give up social networking

Source: Cassandra Report study of 14-32 year olds

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From their passion for Miley Cyrus and The Jonas Brothers to gossip sites just forthem (Just Jared Jr.), tweens are as obsessed with the cult of celebrity as their USWeekly-reading elders. Combining their love for Hollywood stars with their fervor forcollecting is a new series of trading cards called PopCardz.

Like baseball cards for celebrities, each pack of PopCardz holds five cards, groupedat random. Each card is double-sided, with the front having a celebrity photo and theback filled with quotes, personal information, a secret and a favorite charity, allpenned by the person featured on the card; in keeping with their socially consciousinclinations, a percentage of proceeds from each celebrity‟s card goes towardshis/her favorite charity.

Naturally, the cards are complemented by a 2.0 element in the form of an onlinecommunity where collectors can track their collections and earn points redeemablefor prizes upon entering codes included with each card. Users can even “star” in,and trade online, their own digital PopCardz by uploading photos of themselves.

Source: Trendcentral.com

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With thousands of social networks globally, only a handful of them cater specifically to Gen Y. This group is raised ontechnology, so much so that their cell phones are extensions of their hands and text messaging, instant messaging andFacebooking are how they interact with others, even different generations. While Facebook is home sweet home, variousother social networks cater to this demographic and are worth looking at. Read very detailed post here.

1. Brazen Careerist

2. 20 Somethings on Ning

3. My Barack Obama

4. My Yearbook

5. The Quad

6. Cool People Care

7. Unigo

8. Make Me Sustainable

9. iMantri

10. FD Career

Source: Mashable.com

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In an effort to promote math education in the U.S., Nintendo has partnered withnonprofit organization Mathcounts to challenge middle school math clubs across thecountry to up their membership numbers for a chance to win Nintendo DS handheldsand copies of the Personal Trainer: Math title.

Between now and March 25, Mathcounts will randomly choose four schools with atleast a dozen participating students in its Club Programs to each receive 20 DS unitsand an equal number of copies of the game.

The game encompasses more than 40 math exercises from basic addition toextensive multiplication, where up to 16 players with a DS can participatesimultaneously in a wireless race to solve equations.

Mathcounts is a national enrichment, coaching and competition program thatpromotes math at more than 48,000 middle schools in the U.S.

Source: Kidscreen.com

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The 18-to-24-year-old set is famously media-drenched, with high Internet and mobile phone usage. However, these youngadults are not solidly opposed to brands themselves, and they are willing to spread the word about the ones they like. That isone of the findings recently released by Synovate in their “Young Adults Revealed” study.

When asked about their online brand engagement in the past month, 28% had talked about a brand on a discussion forum,23% had put brand-related content on their instant messaging (IM) profile, and 19% had added branded content to theirhome page or social networking site.

Nearly 50% had clicked on online ads and 18% had accessed brand and product information through a portal. Nearly one-quarter had uploaded ads to social networks and online video sites in the past month.

“They are more than just „comfortable‟ with brands,” said Julian Rolfe, global manager at Synovate. “They want to associatethemselves with brands they see as „cool‟ and this is why we see them uploading clips to their social networking sites andIM services.”

Source: eMarketer.com

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In a new initiative for 2009, toy manufacturer Mattel is hoping to capture the demand foronline play with a new Web strategy.

A launch date is unknown at this time, but a new online destination featuring games tied tohallmark Mattel brands for both girls and boys, including Barbie and Hot Wheels, isexpected to further extend Mattel‟s 2.0 presence. One that already includes hits such asvirtual world BarbieGirls.com.

Source: Trendcentral.com