Diffusion Theory & the Invention of the Telephone

 Blog #7

Have you ever wondered how a new product or invention grew to be such a vital part of society? For example the telephone, how did something that was never utilized become a must have for day to day life? E.M. Rogers created the Diffusion of Innovation theory that can help us answer these questions and break down the adoption of a product into phases. The Diffusion of Innovation Theory allows us to elaborate upon the process of diffusion of a product or concept amongst a culture or society. 

The invention of the telephone through the Diffusion Theory: 

Stage 1: Innovators

For every new concept there has to be individuals willing to be pioneers in discovering and creating something that has yet to exist. In the invention of the telephone, the innovators and pioneers of this groundbreaking communication invention were Alexander Bell and Thomas Edison. In 1876 Alexander Bell was able to create the first telephone as a result of discovering that sound-waves emit electricity. Thomas Edison shortly after, joined the innovative efforts by making improvements to the original model of the telephone.  

Stage 2: Early adopters 

 The second phase in the Diffusion of Innovation model is Early adopters, in which these are people open minded and willing to change, they are visionaries. A prominent early adopter of the telephone was Gardiner Greene Hubbard , who helped Alexander Bell establish the Bell Telephone Company. This was the first telephone company to ever be created and they were a driving force in making the telephone available to the public. 

Stage 3: Early Majority

The early majority refers to people who may be skeptical however, still are early in comparison to the rest of society in utilizing the new product and/or concept. The early majority in regard to the telephone were businesses as they were the first to partake in the commercialization of the product. Specifically, the E.T. Holmes Burglar company was the first office to have telephones installed  in order to have greater efficiency in communication. 

Stage 4: Late Majority 

The late majority consists of people who 'drag their feet', as they are reluctant to adapt to the change. The late majority wishes to have the majority of the population to act as a testament that the new invention functions properly before they use it themselves. The late majority for the use of the telephone involved lower class individuals who did not have the disposable income to afford the telephone as they needed to be shown that it would be a necessity. 

Stage 5: Laggards 

Laggards refers to those who are extremely weary of change and anything new as they are tied to their traditions and habits. Laggards for the telephone included the older population as they were so set in their ways of living. Having this technological advancement was difficult for them to fathom as they had spent their whole lives functioning without it. 

The telephone was a product that was rapidly adopted through the nation as it enhanced the fundamental need to communicate. I personally believe that the positive effects of the telephone outweigh the negative as this made it possible for people to communicate in the present moment.