Thoughts On Early Adoption

While driving to work today I realised that my in-car MP3/CD/radio system had not been used in more than a month. In a functional sense, I have been chosing recently to listen to MP3s directly from my new smartphone.

I have just become aware that I am a 'gadget churner'.

Being an early adopter requires an enthusiasm for something new, neat, quirky, novel or just plain different. Often, we put up with the most masochistic implementations of form and function just to be able to do something new. Like a new toy with no instructions, we explore - and then invent - ways to use our new gadget as a part of our everyday lives.

It is interesting to note the three clear stages of being a gadget churner.

Stage 1. The toy. Playing with our new toy just for the purpose of discovering everything it does.
Stage 2. The tool. Integrating our gadget into our everyday life.
Stage 3. The trash. Discarding the gadget in favour of something better.

The one to really look out for here is 'the tool', which has also been referred to as a 'weak signal' of future innovation.

The way we integrate a gadget into our everyday lives and derive real value is a clear sign that, in the future, others who are not as gadget-oriented will find value too.

…Robert