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Different Types of Digital Immigrants If you are a Digital Immigrant, it does not mean you are automatically technically inept. You can actually be very technically astute.  Digital Immigrants will have to deal with Digital Natives, as illustrated below by Rupert Murdoch.

Not all Digital Immigrants fit into a single category. Current research classifies Digital Immigrants into three categories: Avoiders. This group does not adapt to new technology quickly, if ever. For example, my father-in-law still gets the newspaper, orders cigars through the mail, and uses the USPS to deliver letters to his friends. He is happy with his life.

Reluctant Adopters. This group is aware of new technology and adopts to it at a slow pace. In many respects, I fall into this group. For example, I still have a second generation phone. It took me 10 years to finally get a DVR, even though I knew it would change how I watch television as soon as I saw it. I am happy with my life.

Eager Adopters. This group enthusiastically adapts to new technology. They embrace it. For example, Jeremy Johnson, one of the organizers of the Big Design Conference, falls into this group. He seems to be plugged into every device, network, tech trend, and so on. Jeremy personifies an Eager Adopter. Jeremy is happy with his life, too.

Digitial Immigrants can never become Digital Natives because they were not born after the introduction of digital technology.  Eager Adopters, however, are clearly the class Digital Immigrants that can relate more closely to most Digital Natives.

In the same way that Digital Immigrants can be classified into three distinct groups, some interesting research from Dr. Ofer Zur (a Digital Immigrant) and Azzia Zur (a Digital Native) classifies Digital Natives into three sub-categories: Avoiders. This group consists of people, who are born during the digital age, and do not desire new technology. They are not enamored with Facebook, Twitter, Netflix, or Hulu. For example, I know a 14-year old, who prefers to paint portraits. She owns an iPad, only because her school books are on it. She only watches public television.  She sings in the church choir.  She is very happy.

Minimalists. This group is aware that digital technology is a part of their daily life. They choose to interact with only the most interesting things to them personally. For example, I know a young person who does not have a Twitter account and avoids Facebook. She is not a gamer.  She sends emails and downloads books to her Kindle.

Enthusiastic Participants. This group is the largest group of Digital Natives. Like their Digital Immigrant cousins the Eager Adopters, Enthusiastic Participants embrace and use all forms of digital technology. This group prefers texting and tweeting over sending out email blasts. They are aware of the latest technology, trends, and tools. Their online and offline lives are blending together.

 Digital Immigrants are the parents, teachers, and managers of Digital Natives.

For designers, you want a diversity of viewpoints when you build your products. Consider recruiting Eager Adopters, Reluctant Adopters, Minimalists, and Avoiders for market research and usability testing purposes. The different viewpoints give you insights into what motivates these groups. The “tipping point” for any product occurs when Reluctant Adopters and Minimalists want your product. Their diverse insight is crucial to your design research and product success.