Java: One Year Out | WebReference

Java: One Year Out

Java: One Year Out

by Bridget Regan ([email protected])

Abstract

A hype-free analysis of the spread of Java through society. Using innovation diffusion theory pioneered by Everett Rogers, Regan presents the five key characteristics of successful innovations and measures how Java stacks up. Based on an updated version of her Masters thesis for Information Science, this article concludes that after one year Java has met, and exceeded in some instances, the criteria for a successful and lasting innovation.

Java's first year was a remarkable success. Since its release in May of 1995, a staggering number of Web sites, books, conferences, seminars, tutorials, media reports, and user groups devoted to the innovation have appeared. The industry's big players have embraced the technology either with anticipation or trepidation, but no one omits Java from future plans. Java is cited as the technology to revolutionize the computing industry as we know it.

A certain amount of zeal meets any innovation whose technology excites the imagination... remember ultrasonic dishwashers, or dehydrated food, or quadraphonic stereo, or videophones? No? These innovations also sparked excitement upon their debut, but have never captured the market or changed the world as was predicted. This study analyzes the events unfolding in Java's first year to see just where Java stood. Is Java poised for sparkling success or fizzling failure? Well, like I said, Java's first year was a remarkable success...

Contents

Introduction
Explains the motivation of the study.
History & Overview
Provides a glimpse of the community receiving the Java innovation.
The Model
Explains key components of the diffusion model used to examine Java.
The Measurements
Displays the statistics and documentation how they compare with a model of successful innovation.
Conclusions
Points to Java's ultimate direction.
Bibliography
Contains the references used in this study; the majority of which are on-line.

Comments are welcome

Copyright © 1996 Bridget W. Regan and
URL: https://www.webreference.com/java/
Created: May 17, 1996
Revised: May 21, 1997