Diffusion of Innovation

Diffusion - A process by which an innovation is communicated through certain channels over a period of time among the members of a social system

Innovation - An idea, practice or object that is perceived to be new by an individual or other unit of adoption

In our previous lesson we began to study and understand the workings of the Hype Cycle, this involves 5 different stages;

• Technology trigger 
• Peak of inflated expectations
• Trough of disillusionment 
• Slope of enlightenment 
• Plateau of productivity

This is the cycle in which a new product will go through when being released, although products do not always reach the final two stages.

Adopting Technology

• Innovators - 2.5% (technologists, creators)
• Early Adopters - 13.5% (visionaries, creators)
• Early Majority - 34% (pragmatists, critics + collectors)
• Late Majority - 34% (conservatives, joiners + spectators)
• Laggards -16% (skeptics, inactive)