In praise of late adopters
Tuesday, January 4, 2011 at 07:21AM I've decided to come out of the closet.
No, no, not that closet. But I need to fully confess that I am a confirmed "late adopter." No more subterfuge, no more denial, no more embarrassment.
I am out and proud of my foot-dragging tendencies.
Most of us are familiar with the Rogers "Technology Adoption Lifecyle" popularized by Geoffrey Moore in his book Crossing the Chasm. (Info and graphic below are from Wikipedia.)
The original model was based on a study of farmers who adopted new agricultural methods. Rogers described the groups as:
- innovators - had larger farms, were more educated, more prosperous and more risk-oriented
- early adopters - younger, more educated, tended to be community leaders
- early majority - more conservative but open to new ideas, active in community and influence to neighbours
- late majority - older, less educated, fairly conservative and less socially active
- laggards - very conservative, had small farms and capital, oldest and least educated
Moore and others saw this curve with all technology adoptions.
Why am I suddenly identifying with the "older, less educated, fairly conservative and less socially active" group, Well, I recognize that it does increasingly fit my description. As the t-shirt says, "Over the hill and picking up speed."
But really it's because last weekend I got completely disgusted at having five different goddam ends for five goddam different devices that need to be charged.
- My cell phone
- My MiFi 3G wireless router
- My iPad and iPod
- My Kindle3
- My laptop
I got more cords than a Wurlitzer organ. (Or maybe that should be chords.)
I am quite sure others in my late adopter peer group will not have to deal with this recharger nonsense; that a common "tip" for all devices must be on the horizon. All good things come to those who wait.
This lack of consistency is just one thing that makes sane people drag their feet about any technology adoption. Why should a busy teacher need to remember what charging cord goes to what do-hickey and carry a bag-full around? (Don't get me started on those kits that have several interchangeable tips, either. Expensive and lost in 30 seconds.)
Educational leaders (innovators) spend a lot of time encouraging and persuading the early adopters and even the early majority, but few pay much attention to those of us who want to make darned sure the time, effort and expense of doing something new is worth it.
We late adopters add stability to institutions in a world that changes at an unsettling rate. We demand hard evidence that the new thing is also the better thing. We recognize that there is value in some aspects of the status quo. We are more than happy to let others be on the bleeding edge and have the kinks all worked out of the system by the time we get to the new technology.
Here's my advice for getting those of us in the back of the line on the tech bus...
- Make sure it works flawlessly, every time.
- Make sure it really saves me time or makes me more productive.
- Make it as transparent as possible.
- Don't make me use so many steps I've got to write them down or keep a manual by my side.
- Have plenty of endorsements about your technology from building-level practitioners - not starry-eyed visionaries.
- Don't make be get a different charger.
Join me for Late Adopter Pride Week. I'll let you know when it is. If ever.
Reader Comments (9)
Here! Here! I'm sick of all those tips and the basket full of chargers I have at my desk. I've always wondered why this is necessary. It seems to me it would be cheaper and more efficient for manufacturers to standardize and stick to one type for everything. But, I'm just an end user, and maybe there's a good reason for this. I would love to hear it, if anyone knows!
I like your comments, but I have always believed that if you set your sights too high with technology, you will always be disappointed. I would rather be ready for hassles and problems, and then be happier when things work as they should.
I haven yet to cross over to the "dark side" by having multiple devices (mostly a cost issue) and still rely on good old voice phone calls and e-mails for most of my communications. Although I would like to have some kind of tablet before the beginning of the summer, I will not be surprised or annoyed if I don't.
I have also decided that since most of my students have no idea of what do to besides pressing the power button and clicking every link, I need to be more realistic about technology working - or being used the way it was designed.
Love your post. I've found myself thinking the same thing lately. I feel much better now! Thanks for bringing this out in the open.
Also, everything usually gets cheaper the longer you wait!
Kenn,
We can be members of the Late Adapters club together - and keep our sanity while all those around us go nuts!
Doug
Hi Libby,
Yup. I paid over $400 for my first Kindle and $139 for the last one - which is 10X better as a reader!
The price of cool is pretty steep.
Doug
I love your post. Although I tend to be an early adopter, I think too often we "push" teachers to ALL be early adopters, when all the data points to a range of adoption styles. I do understand their skepticism and lack of time to try out a plethora of different tools, some of which may fade away in a short time.
I think the best thing we can do in leading is try to identify the things that "will possibly have staying power" or will make their jobs easier, as you say. And then invest our time in sharing those things first. Simplify, simplify when working with later adopters. It'll make it more productive for everyone!
Hi Carolyn,
It must be my library background, but I've never seen the value of pushing all technologies any more than I would "push" all books. Our job has always been one of selector. One of the differences might be that techs have operated from a scarcity mindset when any application was thrilling. Hope they get over it!
Doug
In response to all the various charging tips, a lot it has to do with the different requirements of the devices (i.e. voltage, data connections, etc). While there still are lots of proprietary junk (i.e. Apple) having different tips makes sure you wont fry your device if you plug in the wrong charger. So while having standards is good, sometimes it is impossible from an engineering standpoint. If you look at your various chargers, and they all have different output voltages, then be happy that you have a whole host of chargers. However if they are all the same then you can start to yell and scream. Or just pull our your soldering iron and make cords and plugs that are standardized. (I do not suggest that you attempt this unless you very much know what you are doing)
Hi Jonathan,
They may have different voltages, but they all seem to charge fine via a powered USB port from my computer or the equivalent plug in adapter. There are number of "kits" with various tips that all use the same cable and charger for sale as well. I don't get it.
Doug