Blog # 8

    The smartphone is a good example of an innovation that has seen widespread adoption in recent years. Viewing its adoption through the lens of Rogers' Diffusion of Innovations theory can help understand its rapid spread and the reasons behind the different rates of adoption.

Due to the ability to operate as a phone, camera, and personal computer all in one, smartphones provided a big advantage over older-style cell phones. Their suitability for more modern lifestyles places a greater focus on connectivity, and information availability, added to their appeal. Smartphones have an easy understanding among users because of their simplicity and user-friendly interfaces. Alongside this, people observe others using cell phones and understand their advantages, making smartphones very observable.

    Early adopters of smartphones were probably attracted to the invention because of its benefit and availability to their wants. They may have been more willing to take risks to gain the benefits of the latest technology. On the other hand, late adopters might have been more cautious, waiting for proof of the smartphone's advantages to justify paying such a high price. They also could have taken longer to like the technology because they didn't see a need for the extra capabilities. Some people have chosen not to use cell phones at all, whether out of concern for their privacy because they spend too much time on screens, or because they worry about developing an addiction.

    Some people choose not to use cell phones at all, either out of concern for their privacy, because they spend too much time on screens, or because they worry about developing an addiction. These people could have conducted a cost-benefit analysis before deciding to use new technology, concluding that for them, the disadvantages could outweigh the benefits.

    The negative effects of smartphone technology, in reality, go further than issues with data security and privacy. Smartphones influence daily life to an extent that they give rise to problems like excessive screen time and social media addiction. This causes anxiety, depression, and Insomnia. On top of this, the non-stop notifications we get on our phones result in high-stress levels, and over time this has a very bad effect on mental health.

Citations:

The iphone effect: The quality of in-person social interactions in the ... (n.d.). Febuary 13, 2023, from https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0013916514539755

Perrin, A. (2020, May 30). Social Media Usage: 2005-2015. Pew Research Center: Internet, Science & Tech. Retrieved February 13, 2023, from https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2015/10/08/social-networking-usage-2005-2015/

Roberts, J., Yaya, L., & Manolis, C. (2014, August 26). The invisible addiction: Cell-phone activities and addiction among male and female college students. AKJournals. Retrieved Febuary17, 2023, from https://akjournals.com/view/journals/2006/3/4/article-p254.xml

Smith, A. (2020, August 25). Smartphone ownership 2013. Pew Research Center: Internet, Science & Tech. Retrieved February 13, 2023, from https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2013/06/05/smartphone-ownership-2013/