The Future
 
 

    Even though personal computer and Internet access prices are becoming more appealing and affordable to the common user, there will be some slight changes in the near future that could affect the above statistics.  According to a report done by Forrester Research in November of 1998, personal computer sales will peak in the United States in 1999, but will suffer somewhat of a fall in the couple of years to follow.  Eighty percent of PC companies will expect to cut their production spending in years to come due to the upgrading of their current computer systems.  The upgrading stems from problems with Y2K millennium bug problem.  PC sales are expected to reach fifty-five billion in 1999, dropping to forty-seven billion in 2000, with the market expected to stay in a decline through the year 2002.  According to Forrester, two-thirds of the U.S. companies will refocus their spending on Internet related appliances instead of PC’s.  Some appliances are already hitting the market today.  One of them is a hand-held computer.  These units make e-mail and Internet use much easier and accessible.  In the year 2001, there is expected to be thirteen million units in use.  This will result in lower prices of PCs due to excess stock, lower demand, and higher competition in the lower end of the PC market.

Computer and Internet Demographics

From the Flinstones to the Jetsons:
How Technology is Sprocketing the American Family into the New Millennium
 

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This project was produced for Psy 380, Social Psychology of Cyberspace, Spring 1999,  at Miami University.  All graphics in these pages are used with permission or under fair use guidelines, are in the public domain,  or were created by the authors.  Last revised: .   This document has been accessed   times since 1 May 1999.  Comments & Questions to R. Sherman