As I write this, the 21st edition of the Gypsum Association’s Fire Resistance Design Manual(GA-600-2015) has been on the street for only a month. While the majority of users have continued to order the traditional hardcopy version, 16 percent are taking advantage of the e-book, which allows users to search through the 300 page book by word or phrase. Interestingly, that 16 percent is exactly the percentage of users predicted to be innovators and early adopters by what is called the “technology adoption lifecycle.”
Everett M. Rogers first described this theory about how, why, and at what rate new ideas and technology spread in his book Diffusion of Innovations. Published in 1962, the book, now in its fifth edition, remains highly relevant today.