How early adopters shape tech

Early adopters are the gatekeepers of new technology and innovation – the “influencers” who set trends. But, is the tech industry too concerned with their specific tastes, and are the innovation needs of the rest of us being ignored?

SOURCES & FURTHER READING

Geoffrey Moore’s Crossing the Chasm

Pew data on early adopters

JP Eggers on focusing on the customers you want

Rita McGrath on pace of tech adoption

Price of tech goes down over time

CREDITS
Writer: Louis Foglia
Researcher: Dushyant Naresh
Supervising Producer: Allison Brown

Follow Beme on

[LouisFoglia]

The good news is… when you take a step back from the consumer market, and look at tech adoption on a national level, it’s accelerating all across the world. It took 39 years for old school telephones to reach 40% penetration. It took smartphones just 10 years to reach that same percentage of users.

And keep in mind, a recent study demonstrates that societies that utilize new tools quickly are more likely to be more productive. In fact, the variation in adoption rates between countries accounts for 25% of differences in a country’s per capita income. In other words, if you’re not using the latest innovations - whether that’s personal computers or MRIs - you’re at a major disadvantage.

But that lag rate has shrunk in recent years. Academics think that can shrink inequality, too.

(If this sounds like a script, it is. I decided to cut this section at the last minute).

[mentum]

I really enjoy the videos you guys are doing now.
It is really nice to see that this channel has found it's spot.
You brought many interesting and important topics to my attention which I formerly didn't know about. Thanks.

[imJaaaaaay]

I love this video. I’ve never really seen someone outside of university talk about early adopters and the impact they have on tech in our society

[MrFindX]

It makes me feel good knowing I'm an early adopter of Beme News

[StarrySidekick]

I love how strangely unique and specific Beme videos are. I would have never arrived at this conclusion on my own with a topic like this, and after watching this video I feel like I can’t agree more.

[APVHD]

this channel is amazing with Lou. I have been binging all the videos

[noah_the_nerd]

The benefits of being late you talked about are especially obvious in Teslas. The earliest adopters were the trendiest but also got the crappiest vehicles. Now, the sooner you buy a Tesla, the trendier you are, but the later you buy a Tesla, the better the vehicle you get.

[WorthenBros]

Shows that there are roles for everyone out there

[adeleetherton]

I am a lagger because I am so frugal. I do not like debt, so if it is a great item, and I have the money, I am in early... otherwise, I will wait it out or buy it used from the early consumers who let them collect dust! Great video!

[Aeshir]

i really like this show and look forward to every episode. hope it continues for a long time. i stopped using social media a while ago and don't listen to the radio or read the paper, so i get a lot of fomo. shows like this keep me up without being cynical or manipulative, i wish news were more like this.

[MechNinji]

I was an early adopter of the "pyramid". At first I wasn't a fan, but after I heard Jim Halperts speech about it? I was 100% on board!!! 😀

[mirasderbissalin]

You literally didn't answer a question you put in the title. I hoped to see how early adopter's feedback ruined, kick-started or drastically changed business models, but you just explained the concept

[huskylager]

And Bloopers just endear us yet even more to you, Lou and BEME. Keep kicking newsy butts.

[samueltan]

Proud to be a Beme Panel early adopter, really do miss it....

[Gilotopia]

I used to be an early adopter but as I age I move to the right of the curve. I just watch out for practicality more even though, deep down, I still get that impulse to dive into brand new tech.

[weeklysnews]

Future will mostly rely on technologies, whilst past relied on humans. Great that we have channels like yours to look into the future and luckily we still live with our past and I have human centric news to review!

[dominicmoccio]

Great vid Lou, I feel like I was an early adopter of Beme News and is definitely one of my favorite outlets to find interesting coverage...have you passed the "Chasm" yet? I feel like you guys deserve more eyes!

[CitiesoftheFuture]

Technology and the Future! We are defenetly eearly adopters....always amazing....Great Video!

[haidgu]

That's crazy! I just read crossing the chasm!

[Xanderall]

Watching Lou struggling with the word CHASM was adorable.