In the interest of sharing audience evaluation you might want to consider
some spur-of-the-moment market research undertaken with 15-yr-old on work
experience this week and home for lunch. MJ open on the table at the Second
Life article sparked a conversation which went something like this..
(User profile of subject is that of experienced and intensive user of Bebo,
MySpace, MSN, YouTube etc.)
Interviewer>Have you or your friends used Second Life?
Respondent:'You what?? Wassat?'
>It's where you can have a computer version of yourself in a computer
version of the world
'Oh right - I know it's where you can buy stuff for sort of real money'.
>That's right - have you & your mates used it?
'Why would we wanna do that - you've got to pay for stuff'
>Well - not to just use it I don't think. But you haven't had a go?
'Nope'
>Would you? Or any of your friends?
'Why?'
>Well - how about if I gave you some money for it so you could do cool stuff
on it? (Dangerous gambit this one.)
'Well why not just go on Sims - it's just like Sims for grown-ups isn't it?
Why not just get Sims from Smiths and go on that? You can use cheats and
build what you like'
>Well - you can see computer versions of real things and talk to people
there.
'Like what?'
>Imagine if your fave band - say McFly were playing there
'I don't listen to them any more. Anyway, how'd they do that?'
>Well - they'd have their own avatars - computer versions of themselves.
You'd go and see them in the computer programme.
'Mum why would anyone want to pay to watch a bad cartoon version of a band
when they could pay to see them in real life? Why wouldn't you just do this
stuff in real life? Or watch them for free on TMF?
>Well - some people do - though maybe a lot of them are people who like
playing computer games.
'Yeah, right.' (cue withering-put-down-teenager-disparaging-adult look..8<
further condescending comment edited)
I don't doubt my interviewing technique leaves something to be desired, but
TeenFL and SL user numbers notwithstanding this suggests that we may have
some way to go before we are able to target this particular demographic in
SL.
(And yes I do know there are lots of interesting futures issues which SL
raises - this is offered in the spirit of good humour :-) and reassurance
for those who are worried that they need to do something in SL asap!)
Best to all,
Alice
Alice Grant Consulting
<http://www.alicegrant.co.uk> www.alicegrant.co.uk
Fengate Farm, Fengate Road
West Pinchbeck, Spalding
Lincolnshire PE11 3NE
T: +44(0)1775 640282
F: +44(0)1775 640969
M: 07912116062 Please note new mobile number!
**************************************************
For mcg information and to manage your subscription to the list, visit the website at http://www.museumscomputergroup.org.uk
**************************************************
|