Blog #7 - Diffusion of Innovations

In 2013, Hoverboard took the world by storm with its self-balancing scooter. Made in China by Chi Robotics, the Hoverboard was an instant success in western countries and was endorsed by many celebrities including Justin Bieber, Kendall Jenner, and Chris Brown. This instant success, however, was short-lived after early units caught fire due to the battery overheating and lawsuits over patent rights plagued Hoverboard and their reputation. According to HoverboardHub.com, over 50,000 Hoverboards were recalled in 2016 promptly ending the fad although Hoverboards are not extinct and there are some late adaptors that happily and safely use them today.

Early adopters of the Hoverboard were definitely influenced by celebrities but also by its abilities. The Hoverboard can travel up to ten miles per hour, flawlessly riding up hills while maintaining the same speed and while ten miles per hour may not seem awfully fast, customers definitely noticed a difference in speed. The Hoverboard works as a controlled transportation device when a user steps onto the platform raised by two motorized wheels, they are able to control the speed and direction of the Hoverboard by shifting their balance/weight.

As previously mentioned, the Hoverboard's rise was as quick as its downfall. A U.S. News article reported that between 2015-2016, there were 26,854 hoverboard injuries that sent kinds under the age of 18 to the hospital. As kids fractured, strained, and sprained their bones in homes all across America, the lithium-ion battery of the Hoverboard was causing problems as well. Several viral clips of batteries bursting into flames coupled with all the injuries it was causing to children especially, people turned their back on Hoverboards and deemed them unsafe without at least using a helmet and other padding. As time has gone on, people have regained their trust in Hoverboards thanks to new manufacturers made possible by patent issues and although they will never be as popular as they were in the early 2010s, there are certainly late adopters who find pleasure and joy in their Hoverboard.