I saw them before they were cool.

’I saw them before they were cool’ is a good way to look at the adoption of technology.

It reminds me of William Gibson’s quote “The future is already here — it’s just not very evenly distributed.”

What the rich are doing now or have access to now, everyone will be doing and have access to in future. This is how luxuries like cars and televisions found their way from a select few to everyone else.

What the geeks are doing with their nights and weekends now, everyone will be doing and have access to in future. This speaks to the adoption of personal computers, starting with the Homebrew Computer Club right up to the thing you’re using to read this.

What the professionals are doing now (with their coaches, professional tools and access to their own big data), everyone will be doing and have access to in future. This is how I look at quantified self too – the data is there, but we just don’t yet personally have good ways to interpret and make use of the data like the pros. See: “Moneyball for the NBA” and Greg LeMond speak about his experience in personal tracking, both professionally and after retirement.

When you use something, you’re using for higher level of convenience (the wealthy to everyone else). Or you are using it for a higher level of productivity (programming/computers in the hands of few first and then to everyone else). Or you are using for a higher level of performance (professional athletes to everyone else). If it doesn’t meet these early goals, then chances are perhaps good it won’t break out of that early subset into the mainstream.