Diffusion of Innovation

 The concept of diffusion theory is so interesting. This theory is so important to what we learn in communications and especially important to figure out where you fall within the groups of diffusion of innovation. The different groups are based on how fast you respond to innovation and new ideas. The Diffusion of Innovations is a theory that looks to explain how, why, and the rate technology spreads. 

(wikipedia graph) that shows how groups react to technology.

In my EOTO project, I did it on the kindle. this piece of technology demonstrates the shift from a physical book to copies of books and materials online. Until I reached college most of my teachers forced us to get physical books instead of online ones. However, in 2012, I got my first kindle and enjoyed reading on that because it was so easy to keep scrolling and bookmarking a page online than an actual bookmark. this shows the receptiveness of both parties young and old. Younger people are more typically to be early adopters and hop on the trend and new innovations that surround us, whereas an older crowd is more likely to be hesitant and jump on the wave later since they are used to the technology that was previous.

This is how the five stages of the adoption process were for me when discovering The KINDLE: 

Knowledge/Awareness: This is when I was first In middle school when I first owned my kindle. MY PARENTS BOUGHT ME THIS AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE IPHONE/IPOD TOUCH. I used this tablet to read, play games, and do homework on it in middle school.

Persuasion: I really liked the idea as a kid to be using a tablet to read books, I persuaded my parents to buy me one and set up an amazon account (to this day it is under my name!) because I liked I could use a touch screen device to do whatever I want. for this, I was an early adopter convincing my parents who were late to this technology to let me have this. 

Decision: I finally got the tablet for Christmas and I quickly set everything up and was super excited to read online.

Implementation: I began using the tablet for not only reading but playing games, and doing homework every night. I revolted against my teachers and not only downloaded the books I had to read for class, but bring the tablet in as well to read, which was seen as distracting to other students. 

Confirmation/Continuation: Even after new tablets came out I stayed dependent to online reading, and now as a college student I aim to have online textbooks because I can read, save my location of where I am reading, as well as annotate without writing on paper because I owned a kindle.

The shift from books to online reading through kindle shows how much we depend online, as well as the company amazon. The development of the kindle went from a simple book reader to a full tablet that can support all other Amazon devices and Amazon storefronts. You can clearly see that the adoption of the kindle marked the shift from physical books to moving everything online including classes, especially during covid.