When I was in a meeting the other day, the discussion somehow led to how Japanese people (especially young girls) use the web.
I conducted an impromptu survey by asking the girls who were in the meeting (four Japanese OLs (office ladies) in their early twenties) how they use the web at home. Some of the things they said surprised me.
1. All four girls said they had broadband internet at home, but none knew who their service providers was. (Aren't they paying the bills?? How can you NOT know your service provider...)
2. None of them turned on the PC habitually when they go home.
3. When asked what they use their broadband-connected PC for, the girls went puzzled. Apparently the question was hontoni muskashii for them. Then one girl said, "I use the internet when I have to buy heavy things, such as bottled water."
What? In the era of Web 2.0, AJAX and SAAS, you use the broadband internet for... buying bottled water?
Welcome to Japan.
I conducted an impromptu survey by asking the girls who were in the meeting (four Japanese OLs (office ladies) in their early twenties) how they use the web at home. Some of the things they said surprised me.
1. All four girls said they had broadband internet at home, but none knew who their service providers was. (Aren't they paying the bills?? How can you NOT know your service provider...)
2. None of them turned on the PC habitually when they go home.
3. When asked what they use their broadband-connected PC for, the girls went puzzled. Apparently the question was hontoni muskashii for them. Then one girl said, "I use the internet when I have to buy heavy things, such as bottled water."
What? In the era of Web 2.0, AJAX and SAAS, you use the broadband internet for... buying bottled water?
Welcome to Japan.
