Tech Saturation Moves Us Back To Center

There is this deep rooted fear amongst many folks that technology has, and will continue to, take away from valuable face time and rich experiences rooted in the physical world. For the past few years of the Cyber Census, many of our Boomer respondents and parents have voiced concern for their children’s future amongst all of the technological advances in communication. Many would argue that these advances are often a hindrance to development, with the fear that the ‘Techno Takeover” will lead to great cultural loss and a sense of de-evolution.

For example, in 2008 we heard our boomers voice these fears, as you will see here:

However, our interviews and experiences with respondents in 2010 suggests otherwise.  Tech-motivated changes in culture are not merely trends or fads, but major cultural shifts in the way we think and interact.  Technology will continue to move at a rapid pace, but many consumers report a “return to center” and working to find a more balanced life between their physical and digital worlds.  Today, physical contact and interaction is gaining more importance and value, as it has become more rare in the world of twitters and text.

Click below to see these findings in action:

So, what does this mean?

The most successful companies, communities, and consumers will be able to balance both worlds without putting all of their eggs in one basket. We must not take lightly the increasing value of physical “touch points”, as consumers are recognizing the value of spending time with the people, and maybe even other entities, they are connected to online. The return to center is like a pendulum swing, that technology can take you to the far reaches, but soon the pendulum comes back to center. However, the “center” may not be the same as it used to be. Expect less physical “stuff”, and more physical experiences, as consumers seek to enrich their life beyond digital interaction.