Diffusion of Innovations

Before smartphones, people had flip phones, tablets, and digital cameras. People at the time were using those three different devices, and it was happening at the same time the internet was growing around the world. Another invention was that the internet was more mobile and people could access the internet in remote locations using cellular towers. I believe that smartphones caught on and spread because this one device could perform all of these functions. The many people that became early adopters were people who had a high social status and the financial ability to purchase this expensive new technology. These people are also more interested in discovering and using the newest technology and are willing to risk money on it even though it may fail. On the other hand, some people are late adopters because they want to make sure the technology works and is worth the money before investing in new technology, such as a smartphone. For example, late adopters of the iPhone might have been skeptical that it could work just as well as a computer or their regular phone. 

Finally, some people actually have not purchased a smartphone yet although it has been fifteen years since it was invented. These people are probably so used to the phone they have been using for years, especially if they are older, and have no interest in figuring out how to use something new this late in their life. Therefore in general, the higher the cost of a new product, the greater it would benefit people. For example, each new generation of the iPhone is more expensive than the previous one, but it has more features, making it more convenient for the user. Features such as a better camera, thinner design, and a larger screen all make the communication easier for the consumer. I believe the reason why the smartphone has become so popular over the past fifteen years is because this innovation was communicated extremely well throughout society. Over the years, it seemed like everyone was trading in their flip phone for a smartphone, which adopted really fast. Smartphones also became popular along with the ride of social media. Everyone wanted to take selfies and post pictures of their food, vacation, and their friends. The popularity of Facebook and Instagram definitely helped smartphones become widely adopted. Smartphones are an example of how the Diffusion of Innovations successfully spread this new idea throughout the world.