The Race to Be an Early Adopter of Technologies Goes Mainstream, a Survey Finds

A new study shows that wide swaths of America play video games, use broadband Internet and have cellphones and PCs.

New York Times, September 2, 2009 — For decades, the adoption and use of the latest technologies was limited to a subculture: Whether called “tech enthusiasts” or “gadget geeks,” the implication was that most of the world got along fine with older, established products and services, while a smaller group pursued the most leading-edge technology.

But according to a study released Wednesday by Forrester Research, a marketing firm based in Cambridge, Mass., a shift has taken place. What used to be the pursuit of a few has become decidedly mainstream. We’re all gadget geeks now.