The Gartner Hype Cycle is a conceptual model represent the typical progression of new technologies and innovations through five key phases of public attention and adoption.
The phases are:
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Innovation Trigger
- A technology breakthrough or concept emerges.
- Early proof-of-concept stories and media interest trigger significant attention.
- Commercial viability is still unproven.
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Peak of Inflated Expectations
- Early publicity produces success stories, often accompanied by scores of failures.
- Some companies take action; many do not.
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Trough of Disillusionment
- Interest wanes as experiments and implementations fail to deliver.
- Producers of the technology either improve it or fail.
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Slope of Enlightenment
- Some businesses persist and begin to understand the benefits and practical applications.
- More instances of how the technology can solve problems emerge.
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Plateau of Productivity
- Mainstream adoption begins to take off.
- The technology’s broad market applicability and relevance are becoming clearer and more stable.