Flat panels: not just for young geeks any more
Tags: HDTV, LCD, Plasma
While sitting outside at a popular lunch spot here in Maynard, MA, I overheard a couple of grandmotherly-looking women at the next table chatting up their young male waiter. But what really caused my ears to perk up was when they started discussing the merits and issues of their flat-panel TVs. Know what? They had all the details right. The two women bought a large LCD display because it was able to achieve higher peak brightness, which was a deciding factor in their viewing environment. But they had evaluated plasmas as well and had an excellent grasp of its advantages, including deeper black and richer color definition. The waiter noted that he also had a flat panel LCD display, and the conversation went on from there.
One of the surprises in the early Internet was its rapid and aggressive use by senior citizens. Why? Because they had both the money and time needed to figure out what it was good for and to appreciate its communication power. I believe we are seeing a similar phenomenon in flat-panel TVs. Yes, those 42-inch plasmas make the perfect fashion statement for a 30-something's urban loft. But what TV manufacturers may be missing is the fact that they also fit well into today's active senior lifestyle and aren't out of reach for well-off retirees. At the very least, flat-panel executives need not fear that their products are too technologically sophisticated for the senior market; based upon the conversation I heard today, some seniors are way ahead of where you may think they are.
While sitting outside at a popular lunch spot here in Maynard, MA, I overheard a couple of grandmotherly-looking women at the next table chatting up their young male waiter. But what really caused my ears to perk up was when they started discussing the merits and issues of their flat-panel TVs. Know what? They had all the details right. The two women bought a large LCD display because it was able to achieve higher peak brightness, which was a deciding factor in their viewing environment. But they had evaluated plasmas as well and had an excellent grasp of its advantages, including deeper black and richer color definition. The waiter noted that he also had a flat panel LCD display, and the conversation went on from there.
One of the surprises in the early Internet was its rapid and aggressive use by senior citizens. Why? Because they had both the money and time needed to figure out what it was good for and to appreciate its communication power. I believe we are seeing a similar phenomenon in flat-panel TVs. Yes, those 42-inch plasmas make the perfect fashion statement for a 30-something's urban loft. But what TV manufacturers may be missing is the fact that they also fit well into today's active senior lifestyle and aren't out of reach for well-off retirees. At the very least, flat-panel executives need not fear that their products are too technologically sophisticated for the senior market; based upon the conversation I heard today, some seniors are way ahead of where you may think they are.
posted by Carl Howe at
12:42 PM
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