the characteristics that unite generations

As TPN continues to forge ahead in event technologies, my interest in the subject all together has peaked; but maybe not in the way you might think. What most interests me, is the way people learn and how technologies tap into individual styles of learning.

Through my personal experience and in study, I’ve come to know learning styles by demographic and generation. Together core Gen Xers (the original connected generation) who paved the way for a digital learning environment and the ultra-brand happy Millennial’s are responsible, by demand, for the surge in technological advances.

“The hallmark Xer freethinking, along with their laziness, could be just what is needed to transform technology that’s available, but not utilized, to make offices and desks handheld pocket-sized devices.” – Pulled Christopher Reynolds AdAge Blog Gen X – The Unbeholden http://adage.com/americandemographics/article?article_id=44974

As the connected age spawns, gaps between demographics deepen, or diminish depending on the topic, but Gen X (a.k.a. the “MTV Generation”, the “Baby Bust”, “The 13^th Generation”), Gen Y (“Millennial’s”, the “Connected Generation”, the “I” or “Me” Generation), and Boomers (a.k.a. Generation Jones) have at least one trend bridge in common – they all demand customized environments, in advertising, consumer environments and learning environments alike. Being in the Experience business, I’m pretty excited about that! Dr. Phil Harris writes about the neuroimaging research which supports the theory of emotionally based/response to environment choices.

The primary edge in my company’s development of various experience technologies, is not to leverage the differences between age groups, but to leverage the characteristics that unite them. My Marketing team has been engaged in a study of demographics for months, and whether by personality or by intellect, they continue to deliver a wealth of information that supports a more holistic, less divided philosophy on demographics and “buyer behavior” or “buy-ology”

When looking across the years that define these three demographics – 60 odd years – I see a generational build responsible for demographic behavior…a timeline of inventions that define behaviors…technological advances in every decade that spur the characterization of generations, characterizations that we now title “demographics”. We’re on the Experiential train – sometimes driving and other times passengers – but we’re on the train. I think, as an industry, what we are beginning to learn and revel in – is the size of the proverbial train and the limitless number of passengers. All aboard!

John Vadino