Diffusion of Innovations

Roger's Diffusion of Innovations is a theory that attempts to explain and showcase the pace at which new ideas and technologies spread as well as how and why they spread. The theory was developed and popularized by Everett M. Rogers, a theorist, and sociologist, in 1962, making it one of the oldest social science theories to date. Because 95% of all new technologies fail, the rate of adoption is fascinating to study. The categories of adopters are broken up into five categories, the pioneers, the early adopters, the early majority, the late majority, and the laggards. To theory can be applied to the development of every technology. 

The printing press can trace its origins to China in the fifth century with the Buddhist book, The Diamond Sutra. The book was created through the process of block printing. However, the European printing press which used moveable type was invented by Johannes Gutenberg in the 1400s Gutenberg was then assisted in the adaptation of his invention by Johannes Fust (who funded the process) in the introductory phase of the process, making him a pioneer, someone who was hopeful and committed to the new technology.  This partnership resulted in the production of the only book Gutenberg produced, the Gutenberg Bible. Toward the end of Gutenberg’s life, Fust foreclosed on Gutenberg and all of his materials were seized. Fust then partnered with Peter Schoffer who made use of it immediately. From this o=point onward, the spread of the press can be accredited to the workers in Germany who had assisted Gutenberg in the early days of his process. As they became printers and taught others the trade, they effectively became the early adopters of the Gutenberg press. The press was then sent to Italy in 1465, and later to Paris, Portugal, Belgium, and England where it was most impactful. This was the tipping point and the printers who utilized the press in these countries can be known as the early majority, as the press had uses, was advantageous, and there was gratification. This led to a worldwide spread which led to the printing and distribution of the first newspaper in 1605, Relation. This led to those who spread the newspaper all over Europe, the late majority. From this point onward, the newspaper became a common and everyday occurrence in the lives of people throughout the world. 

In the case of the printing press (Gutenberg), the invention was so revolutionary and integral in the advancement of technology that it is no surprise that it caught on and garnered so much attention. In the case of why there were so many late adopters, I blame it on the time in which the press was invented. Before the 19th century or even the 20th, the spread of news or information took a prolonged amount of time. The press is also responsible for creating an easier flow of communication, implanting a spread of ideas, and creating larger senses of community. The only consequence that came from the invention was the shortage of jobs for workers created by this easier method of printing which came into light during the industrial age in England.  Because of this the positives of the invention greatly outweigh the negatives as the press ushered in the modern age and changed the way communication functioned.