Know your market, and build the right product for them

Photo in the window of the Bose store, Pacific Centre, Vancouver, BC

Many years ago headphones were used by people listening to lust at home who did not want to disturb the other people in the house, or announcers and other people who were using microphones. But since the invention of the Walkman, and more recently the MP3 player and smartphone, headphones have been used to listen to music while travelling around.

Now most headphone users are listening to audio from their smartphone. And it is interesting to see that the design of this pair of headphones from Bose recognizes that fact. On the cord there is a small green rectangle that appears to  be the level control and telephone controller. Headphones for home use would not have, or need, these controls.

It is interesting to see how much the proliferation of smartphones is affecting all sorts of consumer products. The smartphone has basically killed the freestanding MP3 player, and may do the same for the free-standing GPS as well.