Diffusion of Innovations

Diffusion of Innovations is a theory that aims to explain the how, why, and speed of the diffusion of new ideas and technologies. It explains the manner and rate with which new concepts, behaviors, or goods diffuse among a community. The innovators, early adopters, early majority, late majority, and laggards are the main participants in the idea. It talks about the transfer of 'new' concepts, things, and social behaviors from one society to another and throughout society.

One of the products with the longest adoption cycles is the cell phone. Martin Cooper, a Motorola engineer, invented the mobile phone in 1973. Majority of people in the world own a cell phone. It is interesting to note that, as of 2021, 97% of people use a cell phone, and 85% use a smart phone. 

For a majority of my grandma's life, she used a flip phone for communication. As most people in this generation have moved to smart phones, my grandma has never cared to upgrade to a smartphone because the flip phone was her first and last cellular device. All of my family has an iPhone. It is crazy to see how the iPhone has improved and expanded on the various versions of an iPhone. I remember when the iPhone 3 came out. It was so small and easy to use as we can call and download any app we wanted to on it. Today, we have the iPhone 14, which is bigger and has various camera updates. The cell phone is a fast and efficient way for people all over the world to communicate. People caught on quick to this innovation because it provided a way for people to talk and get in contact with people instead of traveling to someone in order to have a face-to-face conversation. 

Only those who could afford a $4000 cell phone would purchase one when they initially became available. They were mostly used by wealthy businesspeople who needed to be near a phone line. I would argue that tech reviewers and product experts are among the first to upgrade to the newest edition of the smartphone due to its yearly adjustments. These are the individuals who would evaluate the goods and provide reviews for customers who intended to upgrade.

Due to the expense cost of the device, there were few early adopters of cell phones. Men and women were among the first to own a cell phone in the 1980s when they first became available since they were frequently away from home. Many women carried a mobile phone in order to connect with the other members of the family through the home phone because they wanted to be sure that their husbands were safe at all times. Typically, the working member of the family carried this device. People who can afford to upgrade their phone every year because of their plan or job are the early adopters of the smart phone. The early adopters are also those who, rather than upgrading to a phone that merely offers speed increases, are the first to go out and purchase the new features-packed smartphone of the next generation. 

The group of consumers who purchased a cell phone just as they were beginning to gain popularity is known as the early majority. Due to the high number of people using cell phones while out and about in the 1990s, early majorities bought them. They desired constant knowledge on the whereabouts of their relatives. When Apple sold the iPhone 4 and 4s, which was my first iPhone, the early majority of smartphones were produced. Like yesterday, I recall the iPhone 4s. When the iPhone first came out, every one of my teachers and family members owned one. The majority of those who were ready to upgrade could afford an iPhone 4, but not those who did not want to learn how to use a new phone and operating system. Some members of the early majority believed that their smartphone would outlast their old cell phone. While his partner consistently upgraded her iPhone, my grandfather, who travels and lives abroad, continued to use an iPhone 4. He was one of those individuals who was trapped in the iPhone 4 era. If you ask someone about their first smartphone, they will likely answer that it was an iPhone 4, as the newest iPhones serve as a constant reminder of the iPhone 4 era because the iPhone 4 is where it all began. 

People who solely own smartphones and have never felt the need to own a cell phone make up the late majority of cell phone users. With the iPhone 6, the late majority gained significant ground. The most popular item was the iPhone 6. Many older folks in the 1960s who had previously been hesitant to get an iPhone now felt comfortable to do so. My mom who was born in the 1960s got a phone not too long ago. She did not get a phone until she was 35 and she is not 50. Most of her life growing up, there was no cell phone. When cell phones came out, she never felt the need to buy one until all of her kids got one. She realized it would be easier if she bought one so she can text and call her kids to make sure they are safe and to notify them about an important situation.

According to research, excessive phone use causes relationship problems, anxiety, sadness, stress, and sleep disruptions. Cell phones are a distraction. When I am in school, I see everyone on their cell phones. Nobody tries to stir a conversation or talk to the people beside of them because they are too busy looking at their cell phones. Cell phones have had a negative effect on our social skills and how we perform. I have a hard time studying sometimes because my phone is right next to me. I constantly look at my phone if it is on my table next to my homework. It is a major distraction that decreases our attention span. This is why some people do not get a cell phone. They see the generation of today always on them and they lose interest in getting one. Cell phones take you away from reality and you lose the connection you once had with people because we are addicted to our phones. No cell phones can help us appreciate the environment around us and make us more comfortable with the people and environment around us. Most people have said that cell phones have been more positive than negative in regard to the attitudes toward cell phones. People can access the web and research information with their cell phones and keep in touch with relatives that are miles away. We have access to information from all over the world. Even though cell phones can be a negative aspect of people's lives in regard to distraction and inappropriate content with social media apps on cell phones, they are a vital part of living in our society and have been beneficial to society as a way of being informed and sharing information. 

The laggards are the people who do not have a cell phone. There are also laggards that own a cell phone but have never updated. My grandma has not updated her phone as she still uses the first phone that she has owned for 8 years. She barely knows how to work her flip phone and only uses it for calling someone. She has no interest in getting an iPhone and does not care about social media or the apps that comes with it. Laggards do not like change and are not interested in getting the new products until the traditional alternatives are not available anymore. They make investments to survive and do not care about the latest and newest gadgets of technology.

Comparing expected or estimated costs and benefits connected with a project choice to ascertain whether it makes sense from a business standpoint is the process of a cost-benefit analysis. Cost benefit analysis entails totaling up all expenses associated with a project or decision and deducting the sum of all anticipated benefits. You want a new communication technology to be efficient, affordable, and accessible to anyone who needs it. The cell phone has been successful so far in providing an impact on everyone who has bought the product. Cell phones continue to be one of the biggest innovations and has provided the world with a way of being connected to our society around us.