Diffusion of Innovations

The theory of the Diffusion of Innovations was popularized by Everett Rogers in his book Diffusion Innovations and explains how, why, and at what rate new ideas and technologies spread. In his book Rogers argued that diffusion is the process by which an innovation is communicated over time among the participants in a social system. This process includes five main elements that help the spread of the new idea: the innovation itself, adopters, communication channels, time, and a social system. For the innovation to be self-sustaining, it must be universally embraced. Rogers continues by stating that categories of adopters include innovators, early adopters, early majority, late majority, and laggards. He continues by explaining that diffusion manifests itself in multiple ways and is extremely subjective to the type of adopter and innovation-decision process. 

A specific innovation I wish to discuss today is the social media app TikTok. TikTok was first launched by the Chinese technology company ByteDance in 2016 and is a social media outlet that users watch, create, and share short videos online. Many of the apps first adopters were of the younger generation Z. Young teenagers and adults were drawn to this new app due to its similarity to an old app called Musically that many of these adopters enjoyed. TikTok rapidly started to grow as the years continued and began to become the birth place of all social media trends. The app today has around 1 billion global daily users and is still growing. 

TikTok's fame and user activity continues to grow because of their major influence on modern social trends. Many early adopters began to realize how much of any impact this app had on social norms and they wanted to understand them. TikTok had started to reach more viewers and those viewers would take the content they experienced into the outside world with them. Others who were not involved with app were starting to feel left out and wanted to join on the "band wagon." This social media app was starting to become extremely invested in peoples' everyday lives and those who did not have an account were being left behind. 

However, there were still late adopters and laggers even over the course of the past six years. These late adopters or even those who still do not have the app are probably of older generations. This is due to fact that in its early years TikTok aimed at younger audiences giving no appeal to older viewers. Majority of the content produced by those on the app would not be understood by most older audiences. Another reason for this lack of an older demographic is due to TikTok's technology which is unlike any other social media outlet and can be confusing to some. Furthermore, some audiences today might not see a purpose in establishing an account or any social media account. 

Even though staying off social media especially TikTok might seem more appealing it however, can lead to a lack of awareness in the social world. One maybe able to stay update to date with events in the world off social media through the news and internet. However, one may find it more difficult to stay in touch with the social world without being on social media. In today's world social media has rapid become invested in our every day world especially in business. In the recent years TikTok has become heavily invested in advertising and for a brand is the best place to be connect to. Advertising methods have shifted to more visual and influencer elements and TikTok is the perfect outlet to express that. Influencers who gain a steady audience on the app offer snippets of advice and tips along with self promotion. Brands can then reach out to these creators to help draw attention to their brand and further gain revenue. 

TikTok has not only grown in its viewership in the fast six years but also in its own brand. The app has shifted from just a comedy app to the main creator of business trends. Staying off social media can be relaxing but in our modern day of business staying off these apps can also mean great loss. The social media world is expanding and becoming more heavily invested in our reality making apps like TikTok more popular than ever.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VXsrkWks8DTB3tPQlrtGfln-vnLyrJOyhsqFgEFLj-w/edit

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diffusion_of_innovations

The Progressive Era

Throughout the decades multiple polls and surveys have been conducted amongst the American people on their opinions of War. Around half of answers reveal to be Anti-War however, the main stream media always seems to be saying a different story. In America going to War is marketed as heroism or inevitable. It is marketed to the American people as a "good thing" with no consequences. Nevertheless, media outlets fail to mention that destruction and devastation war brings amongst everyone involved. Strong Anti-War voices very much exists in the American population they have just become silenced by the main stream media and government. There are many strong anti-war voices in the American public; the government and mainstream media have simply tried silenced them.  

Before I wrote this post I tried to research further on this topic and found extremely hard to do. Simply searching google to find articles or websites was difficult. After looking through the website ANTI WAR.com I some very interesting news stories. Most of the news stories presented on the websites main page were very detailed and important information regarding the war between Israel and Palestine and the war between Ukraine and Russia. The page shared information that I have not heard any main stream media report. For example, the website discussed a Peace Deal regarding the Ukraine and Russia disput which i have not heard much about. When the main stream media silences Anti-War voices they silence important informational news to the public. These media and government outlets may deny their silencing acts and act like they do understand the destructive consequences of war but, one can see throw this lie by which stories they touch. 

Multiple news sources in todays world focus only focus on one conflict or specific stories to mold a certain perspective to viewers. Over the past few months multiple media sources have totally forgotten about the war in Ukraine and have acted like it was resolved. The media has soften the topic of war by not fully showing the consequences and acting like the conflict was resolved in a few days. Another common theme presented in today's world is that the war at hand could have never been prevented and was there was no other ways to resolve the issue. This helps comfort the Pro-War movement our government and media continue to push. 

Some ways Anti-War voices can resit this push is threw continuing their work on other social medias. Reaching other audiences throw more main stream outlets beside the news can help this movement have a larger voice. In these posts one could use more visual elements and photos to really show others the impact of war. People are known for understanding a movement more deeply with visuals. Visuals bring a sense of reality to viewers. This could help citizens push against the Pro-war idea and continue to raise their concerns for the actions being taken by the government. 

Voices are louder together. The more the movement is discussed and continued to be spread amongst newer audiences the further it can go. If more citizens become aware of the true consequences of war and the reality of many of current world events the more Anti- War voices will rise. War is destructive and brings now light to any party involved. Preventing war before it occurs and looking for the best solutions to resolve a conflict is what we all should strive for.  

https://www.liberationnews.org/09-12-11-antiwar-voices-silenced-in-main-html/

https://www.antiwar.com

EOTO Com Tech Timeline

The word pencil is derived from the Latin word “penicillus” that means “little tail” to describe small ink brushes used for writing in the Middle Ages. The earliest documented history of the pencil traces back to ancient Rome where the writing utensil, the stylus, was invented. The stylus was a thin metal rod used against papyrus to leave a light but readable mark. Furthermore, the first instance of a graphite form of writing utensil was in 1564 England. These first prototypes of the pencil were long sticks of graphite wrapped in string and later inserted into hollow wooden sticks. These first wood-cased pencils were mainly used by shepherds to mark their sheep and early artists for their work. 

Flash forward a thousand years to 1662 Germany where a man named Joann Staedtler became fascinated with the pencil work in London and created the Staedtler Pencil Company. His company then produced the first-mass production of pencils. However, these first generations of modern pencils were natural and unpainted so by the 1890’s many American pencil manufacturers started painting and imprinting brands on pencils. This is how the iconic yellow pencil we use today was created. Early American pencil makers wanted a special way to market that their pencils contained Chinese graphite. In Chinese culture the color yellow is associated with titles of royalty and respect. American’s took this aspect to market to audiences that their pencils were “regal” and consumers should buy them. 

Not only did early 19th century Americans invent the iconic yellow pencil but they also invented the number 2 pencil. In 1820 New Hampshire John Thoreau and his son Henry David Thoreau discussed the issues with pencils being brittle and greasy. From their findings they built their own factory and developed a system to diminish these issues by substituting clay for wax. This new model of the pencil birthed the modern number 2 pencil we all use today. Furthermore, Henry David Thoreau not only created the number 2 pencil he created four more types as well. These four types were labeled 1 to 4 and ranged from softest to hardest levels of graphite. 

There are more versions of the modern pencil than the yellow and number 2 pencil especially some that are more advanced in technology. The earliest prototype of the mechanical pencil was created by Nicholas-Jaques Conte in 1791. This scientist and artist created this new form of a pencil by placing a lead stick between a twisting screw mechanism. However, this invention was not popular until the 19th century where various designs were constructed with more advanced technology. Some specific new technologies involved were retractable tips, adjustable lead grades, and ergonomic grips.  

In today’s world over 20 billion pencils are produced each year and more specifically over 1 billion number 2 pencils are made each year. In regards to mechanical pencils the rate is much higher and over 14 billion pencils are created each year. The pencil is an object majorly invested in our everyday lives no matter which form we use. This invention advanced human history not just in technology but writing and art as well. The pencil may seem small but it has had and will continue to have a major impact.

Sources:

https://www.qualitylogoproducts.com/promo-university/history-of-pencils.htm#:~:text=Who%20Invented%20the%20Pencil%3F,be%20sold%20all%20over%20Europe.

https://writersneed.com/how-many-pencils-are-made-each-year/

https://www.simon-webb.co.uk/blog/the-history-of-the-mechanical-pencil#:~:text=Mechanical%20pencils%20have%20been%20around,by%20twisting%20a%20screw%20mechanism. 

https://www.themarginalian.org/2013/06/24/history-of-the-pencil/

https://pencils.com/pages/the-history-of-the-pencil#:~:text=Originally%2C%20graphite%20sticks%20were%20wrapped,mass%2Dproduced%20pencils%20in%201662. 

https://www.simon-webb.co.uk/blog/the-history-of-the-mechanical-pencil#:~:text=Mechanical%20pencils%20have%20been%20around,by%20twisting%20a%20screw%20mechanism.