In today’s society, we are much more conscientious of the environment in which we live, our carbon footprint weighs heavy our daily lives.  One of the recent innovations diffusing through communities is the electric vehicle.  Like most people, my initial knowledge of the electric vehicle’s introduction came from news articles on the internet and news casts on the national television networks.  I have taken it upon myself to do the extra research to learn more about this innovation and its potential as a replacement product for current internal combustion driven vehicles.  I can firmly proclaim myself to be in the stage of decision.  Having weighed all the pros and cons to the electric vehicle, I can say that it is highly unlikely that I shall ever proceed past this stage.  My lack of stage progression is based on my personal experience with the transportation industry, and my own personal driving preferences.   While the electric vehicle may be up to the task of transporting individuals from home to their place of work or the market, they are nowhere near up to the task of moving tonnage any appreciable distance before the battery charge is completely exhausted. Further, battery recharge times can take many hours to complete.  Consequently, the electric vehicle proves to be an unreliable resource for the long distance transport of time sensitive freight. Considering my stage of adoption, there is no possibility that I will fall into any adoptive category for this innovation.

While my decision to discount the adoption of the electric vehicle is certain, another innovation that I have adopted in recent times is the smartphone.  Mobile phones, to me, have always been that…mobile phones.  Until recent times, I found no need for the added conveniences afforded to users of smartphones and was perfectly content with the capabilities of the ‘flip phone’.  Categorically speaking, I fall firmly in the late majority category.  While I do not find myself to be averse to change, I did find myself skeptical of the benefits the innovation would add to my daily existence.  Since then, I have fully adopted the innovation and use it as a staple in my daily life.

Some examples of other innovations I have adopted would include any and all new releases of Microsoft operating systems and any of the new online security solutions for protection against identity theft.   For either of these innovations, I find that I fall in the early adopters category for more of a professional reason.  I am in the computer repair and service business and it behooves me to stay above the curve with my knowledge of current technology.  This knowledge is vital to the existence of my business as these new innovations will be in the hands of my clients in the not too distant future.