Technography

technography [tɛkˈnɒgrəfɪ]
n
(Social Science / Anthropology & Ethnology) the study and description of the historical development of the arts and sciences in the context of their ethnic and geographical background.[1] n [2]

Technographic segmentation is a market research analysis tool used to identify and profile the characteristics and behaviors of consumers through the process of market segmentation.

Traditionally market researchers focused on various demographic, psychographic, and lifestyle schemes to categorize and describe homogeneous clusters of consumers that comprise possible target markets.

With the advent of personal computers and home video in the late 1980s and the explosion in Internet use, personal digital assistants, BlackBerries, video games, cell phones, etc. in the 1990s, information and communication technologies have emerged as a central focus and defining force in a wide range of occupations and lifestyles. Accordingly, market researchers realized the need for a segmentation scheme based on the role that technology plays in consumers' lives.

Technographic segmentation was developed to measure and categorize consumers based on their ownership, use patterns, and attitudes toward information, communication and entertainment technologies.

The concept and technique was first introduced in 1985 by Dr. Edward Forrest in a study of VCR users. It was elaborated upon in the article "Segmenting VCR Owners" published in the Journal of Advertising Research. The article suggested that the profiling of technology consumers "should be based on an amalgam of variables which might best be referred to as 'technographic'... which focuses on the motivations, usage patterns, attitudes about technology... as well as measures of a person's fundamental values and lifestyle perspective."

The concept has been adopted by Forrester Research, Inc. as a research service for information-technology and marketing professionals, business strategists, and technology industry executives. [3]

A video from [4]
http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=-1038854406958472821&hl=en&fs=true

Quote of the moment:

"For a small child there is no division between playing and learning; between the things he or she does 'just for fun' and things that are 'educational.' The child learns while living and any part of living that is enjoyable is also play."
- Penelope Leach [5]

______________
Notes;
[1] http://www.thefreedictionary.com/technography
[2] http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/technography
[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technographic_segmentation
[4] http://makingsense.facilitatedsystems.com/2006/11/technography-revisited.html
[5] http://www.deepfun.com/
[6] etc. http://tienwong.wordpress.com/2011/07/11/warren-buffetts-ten-rules/