Collaborate with students on the following exercise. In particular, consider using Google Docs, Windows Live SkyDrive, Microsoft SharePoint, or some other collaboration tool.
Consider the information technology skills and needs of your parents, relatives, family friends, and others in the Baby Boom generation. Although you may not know it, you possess many skills that generation wants but does not have. You know how to text chat, how to download music from iTunes, how to buy and sell items on eBay, how to use Craigslist, and how to use a PDA, an iPhone, and so forth. You probably can even run the navigation system in your parents' car.
1. Thinking about Baby Boomers whom you know, brainstorm with your team the skills that you possess that they do not. Consider all of the items just described and others that come to mind. If you have not read Using MIS InClass 6 (page 177-178), do so now. Make a common team list of all those skills.
2. Interview, survey, or informally discuss the items on your list in part 1 with your parents and other Baby Boomers. As a team, determine the five most frustrating and important skills that these people do not possess.
3. The Baby Boomer market has both money and time, but not as much information technology capability as they need, and they do not like it. With your team, brainstorm products that you could sell to this market that would address the Baby Boomers' techno-ignorance. For example, you might create a video of necessary skills, or you might provide a consulting service setting up Microsoft Home Server computers. Consider other ideas and describe them as specifically as you can. You should consider at least five different product concepts.
4. Develop sales material that describes your services, the benefits they provide, and why your target market should buy those products. Try your sales pitch on friends and family.
5. How viable is your concept? Do you think you can make money with these products? If so, summarize an implementation plan. If not, explain why not.