Innovation and technology go hand in hand in developing the vision and strategy for the business solutions these leaders employ to engage current and new customers (boomers and beyond), and to establish new business models. Explore the best practices in innovation that drive new revenue generation. How is innovation affected by the adoption of technology by older consumers? Lee Rainie and Andrew Perrin present what works and what doesn’t when innovating in large public and nonprofit organizations at the Boomer Summit in Washington.

1. Technology adoption by Baby
Boomers (and everybody else)
Lee Rainie and Andrew Perrin
Pew Research Center
3.23.16

2. Internet users
97
92
83
76
61
Millennials (18-34)
Generation X (35-50)
Younger Boomers (51-59)
Older Boomers (60-69)
Silent (70-87)

3. Broadband at home
76
72
66
60
41
Millennials (18-34)
Generation X (35-50)
Younger Boomers (51-59)
Older Boomers (60-69)
Silent (70-87)

4. Cell phone
98
95
91
87
74
Millennials (18-34)
Generation X (35-50)
Younger Boomers (51-59)
Older Boomers (60-69)
Silent (70-87)

5. Smartphone
88
77
59
46
25
Millennials (18-34)
Generation X (35-50)
Younger Boomers (51-59)
Older Boomers (60-69)
Silent (70-87)

6. Tablet computer
52
55
35
41
29
Millennials (18-34)
Generation X (35-50)
Younger Boomers (51-59)
Older Boomers (60-69)
Silent (70-87)

7. Social media of any kind
89
73
54
45
29
Millennials (18-34)
Generation X (35-50)
Younger Boomers (51-59)
Older Boomers (60-69)
Silent (70-87)

8. Facebook
80
71
52
46
27
Millennials (18-34)
Generation X (35-50)
Younger Boomers (51-59)
Older Boomers (60-69)
Silent (70-87)

9. Pinterest
36
32
19
17
11
Millennials (18-34)
Generation X (35-50)
Younger Boomers (51-59)
Older Boomers (60-69)
Silent (70-87)

10. Instagram
47
24
8
8
1
Millennials (18-34)
Generation X (35-50)
Younger Boomers (51-59)
Older Boomers (60-69)
Silent (70-87)

11. Twitter
47
24
8
8
1
Millennials (18-34)
Generation X (35-50)
Younger Boomers (51-59)
Older Boomers (60-69)
Silent (70-87)

12. Takeaways
• A generation that is familiar with technology and
prepared for more – Internet of Things will not be
alien to them
• A generation of tech adopters and tech learners
by exploiting personal networks and “horizontal”
communities
• A generation used to technological life
enhancement – but also wary of the broad,
societal impact of these gadgets/platforms
• Blenders of older and newer technologies