For Consumer Product Strategy Professionals

Tracking Augmented Reality

The Next Consumer Application To Watch

by Paul Jackson, October 30, 2009

Augmented reality has emerged from the shadows in the past six months as fun consumer applications move beyond dedicated Webcam software and academic experiments. The widespread availability of applications for mobile handsets has driven augmented reality . . .

For Consumer Product Strategy Professionals

Reaching Consumers Who Will Help Product Development

Where And Who Are Those Key Social Media Users That Can Help You Deliver New Killer Products And Services?

by Paul Jackson, October 21, 2009

Having established a need or desire to engage with a consumer community to help product and service development, how do you find, target, and engage the appropriate people? Locating the right channels, forums, and communities is not hard, but this should . . .

For Consumer Product Strategy Professionals

Social Media For Product Development

by Paul Jackson, September 29, 2009

While much has been written about the marketing potential of social media, we often overlook how firms are using the technology to help innovation and product development. How do you actually capture the "wisdom of crowds" and use "crowdsourcing" to drive . . .

For Consumer Product Strategy Professionals

Case Study: How HP Drives World-Class Product Innovation

Openness And Tight Management Define HP's Innovation Process

by Paul Jackson, September 21, 2009

In HP's 70-year history, it has innovated in many new and established technology fields. But how does the firm cope with the inevitable slide — faced by most dominant global firms — into driving established products rather than innovative ones? Whether . . .

For Consumer Product Strategy Professionals

Netbooks Remain Adjunct PCs . . . For Now

Radical Changes In Technology And Business Model Are Around The Corner

by Paul Jackson, July 14, 2009

For a new technology category that's only 20 months old, netbooks have certainly shaken up the consumer technology world. But can this momentum continue? Forrester believes that the device that falls between mobile phones and full laptops is here to stay . . .

For Consumer Product Strategy Professionals

The Re-Emergence Of The PC As A Proper Gaming Platform

by Paul Jackson, Abe Garon, July 9, 2009

Consumer behaviors are becoming increasingly mobile, and many are almost continuously connected to the Internet. Along with the move toward downloadable content, this trend will allow the PC to play an increasingly important role in the video gaming market. . . .

For Consumer Product Strategy Professionals

The Convenience Quotient Of Portable Computing

How Do Different Consumer Devices Stack Up For "Computing" Tasks?

by Paul Jackson, June 8, 2009

We're finally seeing consumers embrace computing on the go — whether it's experimentation with Net access and application downloads on the iPhone or trying out inexpensive netbooks, the past 18 months have seen an explosion in activity and functionality. . . .

For Consumer Product Strategy Professionals

"Project Natal" Drives User Interfaces For All

Microsoft Announces A Controller-Less Game Console Interface

by Paul Jackson, June 5, 2009

Microsoft's announcement of Project Natal this week at its Xbox media event, prior to the start of E3, demonstrates the early efforts that the Redmond giant is making to significantly broaden the appeal of its Xbox platform. Combining full-body motion . . .

For Consumer Product Strategy Professionals

The Relevance Of Today's PC Services Is Waning

But, There Are Large Opportunities In The Market For Creative Expansion

by Paul Jackson, Abe Garon, April 28, 2009

There is great opportunity in the market for PC maintenance and protection services, but current offerings have failed to evolve with the changing PC market. With PC adoption rates near saturation and price points dropping rapidly, extended warranties . . .

For Consumer Product Strategy Professionals

Digital Camera Purchasing Criteria In A Slow Market

by Paul Jackson, Seth Fowler, April 27, 2009

Digital cameras, like many other electronic consumer goods, will suffer during the economic downturn as more consumers defer replacement. Competition from mobile phones with built-in low-resolution digital cameras also softens demand for new digital cameras. . . .

For Consumer Product Strategy Professionals

Driving Consumer Product Innovation

Introducing Forrester's Consumer Product Innovation Viability Scorecard

by Paul Jackson, April 10, 2009

We are entering a period of near-unprecedented change in the consumer product space — available technology, global markets, and new levels of consumer engagement are clashing head-on with recessionary spending pressures, new competitors, and a raft of . . .

For Consumer Product Strategy Professionals

The Impetus For Consumer Product Strategy Change

by Paul Jackson, April 9, 2009

It is an "interesting" time to be a consumer product strategist at a technology or services company: The technologies we have been waiting for have finally hit the mainstream, and new technologies are emerging from the lab — but the consumer market and . . .

For Consumer Product Strategy Professionals

Consumers Fancy Devices With Style

Two Years Into The Age Of Style, Aesthetics Continue To Grow In Importance

by Paul Jackson, Abe Garon, April 2, 2009

In 2007, Forrester announced the emergence of an Age of Style in consumer PCs, in which style and visual design would take center stage. Two years later, as consumer electronics products such as PCs and mobile phones near market saturation, ownership . . .

For Consumer Product Strategy Professionals

What Makes A Netbook?

Shifting Technologies And Industry Players Blur PC Category Boundaries

by Paul Jackson, February 11, 2009

Netbooks were a major success story in 2008, propelling brands like Acer, ASUS, and MSI into the public consciousness. Inevitably, with success come me-too devices, consumer confusion, and some disappointment with what these early netbook iterations can . . .

For Consumer Product Strategy Professionals

Exploiting Europeans' Green And Ethical Agendas

It's Time For Consumer Product Strategists To Pursue Consumers Concerned With "Green" Issues

by Paul Jackson, January 14, 2009

European consumers report a high level of concern around environmental issues — but in many cases, this concern results in little action aside from recycling trash and reusing shopping bags. Corporate social responsibility and green initiatives that directly . . .

For Consumer Product Strategy Professionals

Consumer Spending In An Economic Recession

The Good, The Bad, And The Status Quo

by Paul Jackson, Abe Garon, January 5, 2009

In this economic recession, product strategists at consumer device and service firms are going to have to pay close attention to tightening budgets internally while staying on top of shifting consumer priorities. An evaluation of purchase intentions can . . .

For Consumer Product Strategy Professionals

Driving Consumer Product Strategies In A Global Recession

Keep The Basics Front And Center

by Paul Jackson, October 16, 2008

As consumer product and services firms face up to the reality of a likely global recession — or, at the very least, a protracted downturn — how will a significant shift in consumer and corporate sentiment affect them? While not necessarily at the bleeding . . .

For Consumer Product Strategy Professionals

The Revival Of Consumer Virtual Worlds

Virtual Worlds Emerge From Their Initial Boom/Bust Cycle

by Paul Jackson, September 26, 2008

The two years since virtual worlds went "mainstream" have been a roller-coaster ride for all involved; for every success like World of Warcraft, there have been negative developments such as the media backlash against Second Life. Now, as a number of . . .

For Consumer Product Strategy Professionals

European Consumers And Their PCs

New Survey Data Shows A Maturing Market; An Increase In Multi-PC Homes Is A Highlight

by Paul Jackson, September 3, 2008

A relatively constant home PC penetration rate in Europe belies a large increase in multi-PC homes as PCs become a part of most family members' lives. The physical retail channel remains a primary PC purchase path for many European consumers. Windows . . .

For Vendor Strategy Professionals

It's Time To Take Games Seriously

Video Games Provide An Effective Way To Reach Customers And Employees

by TJ Keitt, Paul Jackson, August 19, 2008

Serious gaming, or the use of games and gaming dynamics for non-entertainment purposes, is poised to take off thanks to the rise of Technology Populism, the greening of IT, and the emergence of the Millennials. Opportunity comes from many sectors, but . . .

For Consumer Market Research Professionals

Benchmark 2008: Gen Y Defines The Traditional Video Gaming Market

North American Consumer Technographics

by Paul Jackson, July 21, 2008

For many years, gaming has been more than just a youth pursuit; PC gaming in particular has shown a capacity to engage and entertain all age groups, even if revenues don't necessarily follow this interest. However, Gen Y consumers show by far the greatest . . .

For Consumer Product Strategy Professionals

Lively: Google Enters The Virtual Worlds Space

Does This Signal The Start Of The Next Wave Of Virtual World Development?

by Paul Jackson, July 15, 2008

After at least a year of rumors, Google has finally unveiled the first iteration of its virtual world, Lively. While not as much of an "open world" or as creatively ambitious as Second Life, to which it will inevitably be compared, it does address many . . .

For Consumer Market Research Professionals

Technographics® Insight: Different Video Game Console Brands Find Different Niches  (214 KB PPT)

by Paul Jackson, June 26, 2008

This Technographics Insight takes a look at video gamers in the US. It looks at the type of game consoles video gamers own and how each console differs with consumers and generations.

For Consumer Product Strategy Professionals

Capturing The Hearts And Wallets Of European Online Video Gamers

Consumer Product Strategists Need To Push Online Elements To Drive Revenues

by Paul Jackson, June 20, 2008

Playing video games on a PC, console, and/or mobile device draws in almost three-quarters of online Europeans. The PC continues to be the most popular choice, although its devotees' spending on games lags significantly when compared with that of console . . .

Is Nokia Monkeying With Music's Future?

"Comes With Music" Is Compelling And Unique But Is A Significant Departure For The Music Industry

by Paul Jackson, Charles S. Golvin, May 22, 2008

Nokia's "Comes With Music" offers a new take on unlimited music subscription services: You get to keep what you've downloaded even after your subscription has expired. "Comes With Music" will help Nokia sell more handsets, savvy consumers will get a chance . . .