Diffusion of Innovations: Headphones!

The Diffusion Theory is a theory that shows the popularity and usage of new innovations. The innovation that interests me though is the innovation of headphones. For me they are something I cannot function without, the ability to hear what I want to hear when I want to hear it is important to my way of life. This can be used for stress relief, improving focus and for simple entertainment. When applying the Diffusion Theory to this innovation I would like to imagine that early adopters would be rich children, or office workers. Some people like complete silence when working and others don't, so instead of a radio in an office I'd imagine them adopting headphones. Of course though before every invention is available to the public, the government gets their hands on it first. This is how I know for a fact that headphones were originally and primarily used for military communication, being able to send messages that only one person can safely hear. This was the start of a genius innovation that simplified the lives of many people.

I'd imagine late adopters were people who didn't like the design of headphones for some reason. It could be the size, the uncomfortably, the ability to lose the sound of your surroundings, things like that. The laggards had to be people who were comfortable with their radio or with hearing sensitivity issues. They may have lived alone so they don't require the function of headphones. It is a valid cost benefit analysis, if you have a radio and don't need to worry about other people complaining about your listening then you don't need headphones. In terms of negative effects of headphones I would worry about ear health, back then I can imagine that without the audio safety settings we are comfortable with they could have caused some serious hearing loss if used improperly. The use of headphones now has become so normalized in our society that it's hard to imagine life without them, and I've gained a new interest in the Diffusion Theory.