The Race to Be an Early Adopter of Technologies Goes Mainstream

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 shift has taken place. What used to be the pursuit of a few has become decidedly mainstream. We're all gadget geeks now. According to the study, half of all American adults are gamers. Sixty-three percent of American households have a broadband Internet connection. Three-quarters of American households have cellphones and PCs. And nearly 10 million American households, out of nearly 118 million, added an HDTV in the last year, a jump of 27 percent over 2007.