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The Classic 'S'-Shaped or Logistic Curve

An idea spreads from zero people have heard of it to 100% of the
people know about it. This is an 'S'-Shaped or Logistic Curve. It has a
number of characteristics:

 The height of the curve is determined by the number of people
likely to hear about the idea and pass it on. A narrow academic
thought may involve a small population of researchers;

information on next year's hem height may interest and spread
to millions or even billions of interested people.

 The curve may show the classic S-shape in its early stages, but if
general opinion turns against the idea it may be aborted and the

curve abruptly turns down.

 Communication of the idea is one curve, adoption and
application is a different curve of the same shape. Researchers

have identified a pattern of psychological willingness to adopt an
idea that determines the sequence with which people will (say)
buy a new offering. There are different models of this sequence
as an idea moves up the curve, but the general logic of them all is

as follows:

o Innovators
o Early Adopters

o Early Majority
o Late Majority
o Laggards

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