Leigh Himel wrote a post today discussing Geoffrey Moore’s theory of “crossing the chasm,” an idea revolving around the sphere of early adopters and mainstream adaptation.
For some background on the idea, see below:
Moore’s key insight is that the groups adopt innovations for different reasons. Early adopters are technology enthusiasts looking for a radical shift, where the early majority want a “productivity improvement”. The latter group want a whole product, where the earlier group only needs the core product, and has the technical competence, and financial resources to make the rest themselves.
One of the more interesting questions Leigh raised was actually in the comments: “However, I guess the real question in my mind is, is it a marketing chasm (or awareness/usage chasm) or is it a technology adoption chasm.” Leigh elaborates: “If one can’t see technology, and if one doesn’t perceive new products/services as technology, then how does that change the model?”
My generation (bloggers like Corvida, Nick O’Neill and Caroline McCarthy, just to name a few) don’t see technology and therefore, I would argue, never experience this “chasm” that Moore once described. We live it everyday.
I saw trend adoption while in college, specifically in 2004 when Facebook launched. Friends got on it, shared information and talked online as a supplement to AIM. Instant messaging moved to content creation via blogs and blogs then moved to portability on a mobile device. My friends started carrying their digital lives with them, wherever they went.
Although I don’t have any statistical data (at least right now) to show that Generation Y has destroyed the “chasm,” it’s almost a sure bet that the term “early adopter” doesn’t truly exist for my friends. There is no adoption, rather adaptation to their needs.
What do you think?
May 06, 2008, 1:35pm
