Post #8: Diffusion of Innovations

Diffusion of innovations is, "a theory that seeks to explain how, why, and at what rate new ideas and technology spread." The theory first became known by Everett Rogers in his book, Diffusion of Innovations in 1962. He says that, "diffusion is the process by which an innovation is communicated through certain channels over time among the participants in a social system."

In order to understand the theory, it can be applied to new, present innovations such as autonomous vehicles. Also known as self-driving cars, autonomous vehicles are capable of navigating and operating with minimal or no human input. The invention became more popular because of factors such as technological advancements, potential safety benefits, and the increase in convenience and efficiency. The use of AI in self-driving cars have allowed for more complex and reliable systems.

On the contrary, some people may be late adopters or not adopters at all because of the safety and reliability concerns, high cost, and the continuous development of the technology. Another reason as to why not everyone uses self-driving cars is because people may prefer having complete control over their car and the experience of driving for themselves, while others worry about the impact on the economy and jobs if they become widespread. 

Along the same lines, there are several downsides to the technology. First, the range on self-driving cars, such Teslas, is less than that of a regular, gas car. Second, it can take awhile, anywhere from fifteen minutes to several hours, to charge a Tesla whereas it only takes a few minutes to get gas. Also, if you don't have a home charger and charge at a charging station, it ends up being a higher cost than gas. 

The positives of owning a Tesla, such as its performance and cost-effectiveness can outweigh the negatives like higher initial purchase price and the limited charging. Not only this, but Teslas are extremely environmental friendly. Since they are electric, they produce no tailpipe emissions which contributes to cleaner air and reduced carbon footprints.