Blog #8: Diffusion Theory

Looking through the lens of the Diffusion Theory, it makes a lot of sense why airpods and other wireless earbuds caught on in recent years. Although they first came to market in 2015, wireless earbuds didn’t become as popular until a few years later. This was largely because there were issues that needed resolving regarding their battery life, connection to devices, fit in the ear, and sound quality. Once Apple helped market airpods as an accessory for iphones, sales really took off. The innovation itself caught on quickly because airpods are tiny, fit well in most people’s ears, and are easy to take on the go. They let users have a full range of motion without being attached to their phone or computer while they use audio and voice recording features. Airpods aren’t as big as over the ear headphones, but they still provide quality sound with the convenience of being portable.

The kinds of people who likely became early adopters of wireless earbuds were people who could afford them. Wealthy individuals were eager to pay the expensive prices when first introduced. They also were more likely to have a newer phone with the technology and software required to connect to them. Younger people were earlier adopters than older generations because they are tech-savvy and could learn how to use them easier than older people. Athletes like runners also may have become early adopters since it fit their active lifestyles.

Older people were late adopters of airpods because they are more sensitive to having things in their ears. They also have a harder time learning new technology and probably had older phones that didn’t need bluetooth accessories. Anyone who liked over-the-ear headphones for their plush comfort were also unlikely to adopt airpods early on. Anxious people concerned about hearing damage from airpods probably waited too. When the technology first came out, it was more expensive and people with less income couldn’t afford the early models.

There are pros and cons about airpods. When thinking about buying airpods, you have to think of it as an investment. You have to know if you will be responsible for keeping them charged and not losing them. You also have to be okay with the sensation of having it in your ears. There are lots of positives- like being able to find your airpod case with a tracker in your phone. Still, they are so tiny that they can fall out from your ears which is a negative. People might make the choice to use airpods or not based on how often they need headphones and what their lifestyle is like. For instance, my grandma loves listening to music but she would not know how to work airpods and connect them. Meanwhile, someone out and about all day can really benefit from having hands-free listening.