Diffusion of Innovations

Diffusion theory, also known as innovation diffusion theory, is a theory of the spread of innovations, ideas, and technologies through one or more cultures. The theory has been widely studied by sociologists, psychologists, and anthropologists. Diffusion theory states that there are many qualities in different people that lead them to accept or not accept an innovation.

For example, Nokia used to be the number one mobile phone brand in the world for 14 consecutive years. At the same time as the rise of smart phones, they underestimated the future of smart phones. Now the emphasis is on innovation rather than following the development of the industry. So they fail. 

The fall of Nokia actually represents the end of an era. It's not just the rise of the smartphone. The word innovation is deeply engraved in the minds of the new generation. The rise of Apple is the beginning of a new era. Within three days, sales of the second-generation iPhone 3G exceeded 1 million.

I had an Apple mp3 in the early days, which I could use to listen to songs and watch some stored videos. I didn't get one when the first iPhone came out in 2007, and my family still has Nokia's and Samsung's. When the second iPhone was released, my father and mother bought the latest iPhone, and that was when the iPhone wave started. I remember getting my very first ipad at the time, although it's a relic now. 

Why didn't my family choose to buy the first iPhone? In fact, the biggest reason is that it is more expensive. And most people were still using push-button phones at the time. People are used to this method of operation, and sudden innovation makes it difficult for people to adapt to a new era. (at least for my parents' generation) As times change, people are gradually brave enough to try new things.

And there are pros and cons to this phenomenon. The birth of the Apple mobile phone allows people to take clearer photos, makes people's privacy more secure, and improves people's experience and quality of life. The accompanying disadvantage is that the positioning of the mobile phone and the tracking of the software make people's lives completely transparent, like a rotten fruit that looks fresh from the outside, but the inside has long since rotted.

link: The Brief History of Smartphones (thoughtco.com)