Virtual reality headsets for video games have been in development since the early to mid 1990s but did not pick up steam until 2012 with the Kickstarter for the first independently made VR headset: the Oculus Rift. This innovation launched the world of video games and even cinema into new territories as people were now able to experience things seen in movies and games in first person and react in real time.
The Diffusion of Innovations theory describes how and why new ideas and technology spread and even at what rate they spread according to Everett Rogers. There are four proponents to the spread of new innovations, and they are the innovation itself, different communication channels, time, and an established social system. In America, innovation is par for the course as I mentioned in my previous post about the Promotion of Innovation as the most important of the Eight Values of Expression.
The spread of innovation can be categorized in innovators, early adopters, early majority, late majority, and laggards. The innovators are those who created the technology and the early adopters are the first ones to accept the innovation whether it be in use or independent development. The early and late majority are those who adopted the technology during its peak innovation and profit. Finally, the laggards are those who adopt the innovation after its peak transmission when it is either phasing out or becoming mainstream.
In the case of virtual reality, the rate of adoption is still pretty high as we have not even reached peak transmission because the technology is still new and only in the past few months has there been a completely affordable and easy-to-set-up headset for people to purchase and a full triple A game developed solely for VR. All of which has happened in the past year. Virtual reality is a completely new innovation following the advent of 3D visuals in cinema, striking me as the logical next leap in technology.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diffusion_of_innovations
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_reality#Technology
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