The Cellular Phone

Term Paper # 105088

Communication > Interpersonal
Computer and Technology > Technology

The Cellular Phone

This paper discusses the innovation of the cellular phone.

1,102 words () | 9 sources | APA | 2008 United States

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses the benefits of the cellular phone and the direct and indirect consequences of the increased use of cellular phones. The paper looks at how this innovation has been reinvented many times over and discusses the effectiveness of opinion leaders and change agents in this case. The paper examines the communication channel and interpersonal network used for diffusion of the cellular phone and shows how this innovation has already made a tremendous impact on the way the world communicates.

Outline:
Introduction
History of the Innovation
How Rapidly is the Change Occurring and Why?
What Will be Direct and Indirect Consequences of the Change?
Has the Innovation that is Diffusing Been Reinvented?
Who are the Opinion Leaders and Change Agents?
Opinion Leaders and Change Agents Effectiveness or Ineffectiveness
What Communication Channels Did They Use and What Networks?
How Will This Innovation or Change Affect the Future and Future
Changes?
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"The cellular phone was first introduced to the American public in 1983, and worked off of cells located in metropolitan areas, hence its name, the "cell" phone. Those who used the device in the early days were primarily male executives, who were offered the device as a "perk" since the cell phone at that time cost approximately $3,000.00. As the years passed, the price dropped and in 1993, "one in three cellular phones was sold for nonbusiness use" (Rogers, 2003, p. 245). The rest, as they say, is history, and now almost every household has at least one (1) individual who possesses a cellular telephone."

Sample of Sources Used:

Fliegel, Frederick C. (1993). Diffusion Research in Rural Sociology: The Record and Prospects for the Future. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.
Grubler, Arnulf (1996). Time for a Change: On the Patterns of Diffusion of Innovation. Daedalus, 125(3), 19-25.
Larkin, Sandar, & Larkin, T.J. (2005, Nov. - Dec.). Change the Communication Channel: Web, Paper or Face-to-Face: Knowing the Strengths and Weaknesses of Each Channel Can Help You Choose the One that Best Suits Your Message. Communication World, 16-18.
Rogers, Everett M. (2003). Diffusion of Innovations. New York: Free Press.
Sevcik, Peter (2004). Innovation Diffusion. Business Communications, 34(9), 8-12.