Society Accept or Reject innovation

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In “Accepting or Rejecting Innovation”, Jared Diamond describes the factors that cause people to reject technological innovations. Diamond’s first factor, he discusses is “economic advantage” (149). He states that in order for an innovation to thrive, there has to be a “relative economic advantage” (149). He gives the example of how Native Americans and indigenous people of Mexico had invented wheels with axles but only used them on toys and not for transport because there was no economic advantage. Therefore, technology could be present but it will not be used if there is no economic advantage. The next factors Diamond discusses are “social value and prestige” (149). He states that “social value and prestige” (149) can override the first factor. He states people will buy designer clothing even though there is generic clothing at a much lower price because there is prestige involved. He also states Japan has been using the kanji writing system, not a more efficient writing system because the kanji writing system has prestige. Therefore, people will not accept new innovations, because the old innovations have “social value and prestige” (149). Lastly, the final factor is “compatibility with vested interest” (149). He gives the example of the QWERTY keyboard which has stayed as the standard keyboard even though there are keyboards that could increase efficiency for typing, but because of “vested interests” people have not changed to a more efficient keyboard. He is saying that an old innovation’s “vested interests” can prevent a new innovation.
I agree with Diamond’s idea that economic advantage, social value and prestige and vested interests could prevent a new innovation from being accepted. However, a new innovation can still ...

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...ed interests, which was making money. The new innovation of file sharing challenge the vested interests of the record company, but the record company did not accepted the new innovation. As a result, the record company lost the challenge and their business has shrunken too. The introduction of a new innovation can overthrow the vested interests of an old innovation. Instead, of the vested interests of the old innovation stopping the new innovation.
In conclusion, a new innovation can be rejected by economic advantages, social value and prestige, and vested interests; however, they can also make an innovation to be accepted. If an innovation is beneficial then economic advantages arise. Also, a company’s reputation can help an innovation to be accepted. Lastly, the vested interests of an old innovation cannot prevent a new innovation from becoming successful.

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